Lighting Up the Night Again
The neon sign for the historic A.G. Gaston Motel was lit Tuesday night in a ceremony marking the end of phase 1 of the site’s restoration.
Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin attended along with representatives from the city and the National Park Service.
“The A.G. Gaston motel sign served as a beacon to black families traveling through the segregated South,” Woodfin said. “It’s a sign that will now shine in remembrance of Dr. A.G. Gaston’s legacy – a legacy of black prosperity, equal opportunity, Southern hospitality and freedom.”
The motel was used frequently by civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as they strategized their campaigns against injustice. Restoration of the 1958 wing of the hotel has been completed.
Work to restore the 1968 wing and courtyard is next, with a projected completion date of June 2022.
Opinion: Jane Goodall helped humans understand their place in the world
Jane Goodall, the influential primatologist and conservationist, died this week at the age of 91. NPR's Scott Simon reflects on her legacy and love for chimpanzees.
Here’s how the fashion industry is using AI to predict the next big trend
Once the province of elite fashion editors and forecasters, the art of figuring out what's likely to fly off future racks is getting an assist from AI algorithms.
‘The Lost Bus’ brings you on board for a terrifying wildfire evacuation
Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera star in the true story of a bus driver and a schoolteacher who bring a bus full of children to safety during California's devastating 2018 Camp Fire.
As U.S. pressure mounts, Venezuela’s foreign ‘hostages’ face growing uncertainty
Dozens of foreign nationals are locked up in Venezuelan prisons, accused of crimes they may not have committed. As the U.S. ramps up pressure on Caracas, families fear for their loved ones stuck there.
Lou Ye’s acclaimed ‘An Unfinished Film’ remains unfinished
Chinese director Lou Ye's An Unfinished Film is not a masterpiece, but why do so many seem to demand it to be?
Japan’s ruling party elects Sanae Takaichi as leader, likely to become first female PM
Japan's governing party on Saturday elected Sanae Takaichi, a hard-line ultra-conservative and China hawk, as its new leader, making her likely to become the country's first female prime minister.
