Kids in Birmingham 1963

Thank you, Roy Johnson, for lifting up Frederick Douglass’ powerful speech, known as “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” You say you remain inspired and driven by “his unrelenting challenge to this nation: To do better. To be better.”

link.al.com Long-time Barbershoppers know of my deep affinity for Frederick Douglass. Of how I remain inspired and driven by the works and words of this gifted 19th century statesman, journalist and orator. By his fearlessness. By his passion.

Happy 132nd Birthday, Mr. Arthur George Gaston!

Most of us don't get a say on our birthday, but like most African Americans in the late 1800's, Mr. Gaston was born without official documentation of his birth. So, he chose America's Independence Day, July 4th, 1892, as his official birthdate!

Mr. Gaston's story is one of challenges, opportunities, and successes. As an African American man born only two generations from slavery in the Jim Crow South and as someone who served in World War I, he risked his life abroad and at home to provide meaningful experiences for his community in the midst of Southern racial terrorism.

Determined to "find a need and fulfill it," Mr. Gaston was a supporter of his community, before, during, and after the civil rights movement. A.G. Gaston's contributions to the people of Birmingham are still positively impacting the city to this day.

As we celebrate the 248th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we honor and celebrate a man who worked to make sure that the declaration's preamble "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" applied to all of our country's citizens.

Stop by the A.G. Gaston Motel to dive into the story of the man behind more than 10 businesses throughout Birmingham, some of which are still in business today!

Join us as we dive into BCRI’s collection with archivist Wayne Coleman for a discussion and exploration of the “Signs of the Times”. A pop-up display of segregated signs from the Jim Crow era will be followed by a live discussion/Q&A. Meet us in the Woolfolk Gallery on July 10 from 12-1p.

Congratulations to Kids Storyteller and long term mentor Dale Long, who was recently inducted into the 2024 Class of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (Mentoring) Alumni Hall of Fame. What a way to celebrate 50 years and 8 mentees! The event was held in Dallas June 12, 2024.

Dale Long | Kids in Birmingham 1963 storyteller Dale Long invites you to join us -- or donate -- for the Kids in Birmingham 1963 retreat. Read Dale's story here: http://kidsinbirmingham1963.org/its-a-place...

Reggie Jackson on the unvarnished truth of playing ball in Birmingham. Thanks for this, Dale Long.

Reggie Jackson says racism he experienced playing in Birmingham made his return for Negro Leagues tribute ‘not easy’ | CNN Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson said it was difficult to return to Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, for the Negro Leagues tribute game Thursday because of the onslaught of racism he experienced when he played there decades ago.

It was a hard fought path to recognition as a national holiday in 2021, but — has Juneteenth already become too commercialized? Some worry the name itself is getting co-opted inappropriately. So, what does the driving force behind Juneteenth have to say? You can hear a conversation with the iconic Miss Opal Lee as WBHM celebrates Juneteenth tomorrow from noon to 1 on 90.3 WBHM, WBHM.org, and the WBHM app.

If you saw “American Fiction,” you know his work. That movie was based on his book “Erasure.” Now try “James,” which gives voice to Jim, Huckleberry Finn’s slave companion. And hear, here, what Percival Everett has to say about his new book and about writing!

Percival Everett on JAMES, American Fiction and Banned Books Percival Everett discusses his latest novel JAMES, what he thinks about the Oscar nominated film American Fiction (based on his book Erasure) and how he feel...

Weeklong Events Lead to MLB’s Salute to the Negro Leagues at Birmingham’s Rickwood Field on June 20 mlb.com

Our go-to content expert, Barry McNealy!

Birmingham Kids: Let me know if you can be there on June 15th to represent Kids in Birmingham 1963 and the Coalition for True History!

Love seeing this project continue each year. Go, Bush Hill students!

Explore the pivotal chapters of our nation's civil rights story at the A.G. Gaston Motel. Here, strategies were formed and voices were raised in the pursuit of equality. Join us in honoring this sacred site of perseverance and progress!

Alt text: Street view of a brick building with a sign labeled "A.G. Gaston Motel"

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Join our Children’s March reenactment! Sign up to volunteer at www.bcri.org/event/childmarch2024!

Thanks to June Jeffries for posting about Dr. Sharon Malone and her new book. Highly recommended for, as the author puts it, ANY WOMAN WHO PLANS TO LIVE BEYOND 40. For those of us already over 40, you may recall that Dr. Malone’s sister Vivian Malone was one of two students to break the color barrier at University of Alabama — at the governor’s 1963 “stand in the schoolhouse door.” From June:

“I highly, highly recommend this book! Sharon is such an effective communicator. Her book is for any woman who expects to live past 40 and for those of us who are over 40. The younger you are below 40, the better so that you know what’s ahead and what you can do.

“It’s late, and I will write more detail tomorrow.

“Sharon said she is the only doctor in her family and the only doctor in her friend circle, so she has been involved with a lot of these women through their medical issues. However, as she said, not everyone has a doctor in their back pocket. Well, I am blessed to have a doctor in my back pocket. Jennifer Stevens and I have known each other since kindergarten, and I can call upon Jennifer if I need to. And you know what? I know I can trust her and she will guide me in the right way. I have some other doctor friends I can call upon, too, but I’ve known her the longest. Since you may not have a doctor friend, now you can have Sharon’s book. (Some years back I ran into Sharon at a museum. I told her I needed a referral for a relative. She told me the name of a younger doc in her practice, and I knew that would be a good person. She was.).

“Politics & Prose held this event offsite to accommodate the crowd. Excellent turnout including a lot of women who are former patients of Sharon’s. Sharon is going on tour promoting the book. Get the book yourself, refer it to your friends and relatives. Tell you co-workers, your Sorors, your church members, women relatives, neighbors, etc.”

Thanks to Melvin Todd for bringing this great story to our attention!

The Choirs of Miles College to Perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 13 www.miles.edu The Choirs of Miles College are gearing up to take center stage at the iconic Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 13 at 7 p.m. CST. This performance marks a significant milestone …

It’s poetry and jazz, folks!

Magic City Poetry Festival presents RETURN TO WONDERMENT, a Night of Poetry and Jazz with the incredible Nashville couple, Thandiwe Shiphrah and Daniel Arite. Saturday April 20 at EVA.

Thank you to Rosebud McClendon for this invitation to celebrate Cecil Guyton on Saturday, April 13 at Sixth Ave. Baptist Church in Birmingham:

Please join us as we celebrate the life of my father, Charles Cecil Guyton Jr. 🕊️💙

John 16:22 “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

Kids in Birmingham 1963 has done some of our best work, thanks to grants from AHA. Because of AHA/NEH grants, we get to work with local teachers who create lesson plans using our 1963 stories to teach civil rights history — for art, language arts, science, and music classes. Try for one!

To read the story, see comments!

This week's cover of The Birmingham Times features Salaam Green, City of Birmingham’s inaugural Poet Laureate, and Ashley M. Jones, Poet Laureate of the state of Alabama, as they hold a conversation in honor of Women's History Month.