Race
Alabama riverfront brawl videos spark a cultural moment about race, solidarity and justice
A week after multiple videos showing the now-infamous brawl at a Riverboat in Montgomery and valiant defense of the outnumbered co-captain were shared widely on social media, it’s clear the event truly tapped into the psyche of Black America and created a broader cultural moment.
What do Birmingham students think about race, college, even periods? Listen to these podcasts
WBHM’s education reporter Kyra Miles, along with two Report for America colleagues at al.com, worked with students at Birmingham’s Ramsay High School to create podcasts.
An unlikely place, Lowndes County, has the highest COVID-19 vaccination rate in Alabama
At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, Lowndes County was one of the hardest hit places in Alabama. So when the vaccine became available, doses were rushed to Lowndes and other Black Belt counties by the federal government.
Debate Over Diversity Training Consumes Mountain Brook School Community
The controversy over diversity training is complicated by the city's demographics. The suburb is overwhelmingly white and one of the richest in Jefferson County
Family, Faith And Race Collide In Columnist John Archibald’s New Book
Archibald's father was a Methodist minister in Alabama during the turbulent civil rights era. Yet in his sermons from that time, he stayed silent on race.
Dogs, Firehoses Were A Precursor To Today’s Violent Protests
“You will never be Christ, but that doesn’t mean that you stop pursuing that Christ-like behavior. What we have to do is be in relentless pursuit of having a positive relationship with the community we serve," said Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith.
‘Unjustifiable’ Sheds Light On An Overlooked Alabama Police Killing
The podcast from Reckon South digs into the case of Bonita Carter, a 20-year-old Black woman, who was shot and killed outside of a convenience store in 1979.
Jones Hopes To Defy Political Odds Again
Democratic U.S. Sen. Doug Jones won a special election in deeply conservative Alabama in 2017. He maintains he can do it again in November.
Health Care Disparities: Being The Target Of Racism Can Make You Physically Sick, Research Shows
The American Academy of Pediatrics has found that racial discrimination against Black children and youth can affect their health.
First Black American To Lead Birmingham Business Alliance
Kenneth Coleman starts Monday as the new president and CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance.
Opera Birmingham’s ‘Independence Eve’ Tackles Racial Themes
Conversations about race are often fraught and complicated. A production this weekend in Birmingham tackles that topic through opera. "Independence Eve" is a contemporary work staged by Opera Birmingham.
Megachurch Presence in Birmingham Schools Sparks Tension
Church of the Highlands, Alabama’s biggest megachurch, has expanded into the inner city, leasing space at two Birmingham schools. But there’s been pushback in the community, some of it highlighting a racial divide.
BCRI Board Gets 12 New Members, 5 Reappointed
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Board received a makeover Tuesday with the City Council’s appointment of a dozen new members and reappointment of five current members.
Highlights From The Big Q: Youth and Race
In this episode of The Big Q, we discuss the intersection of youth and race. How do young people look at race? How do they handle differences? And how do educators handle acts of racism in the classroom?
Southern Baptists Vote to Address Sex Abuse in Churches
Thousands of Southern Baptists are in Birmingham this week for the denomination's annual meeting. In the first day of business, the convention voted to amend its constitution to take steps against sex abuse.
Documentary Wrestles with Race and Class On and Off the Mat
A documentary that airs Monday on Alabama Public Television follows four high school wrestlers trying to make it to the state tournament. But "Wrestle" also delves into issues of race and class away from the mat.
Restoration Work Begins on Historic A.G. Gaston Motel
Work has begun to restore the motel that was a headquarters for Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement.
Hoover Parents, School Leaders Speak Out on Diversity
Hoover parents had their say on discrimination in city schools Thursday night, and their words could help shape how school leaders in Hoover deal with race issues.
Southern Poverty Law Center Dismisses Founder
The Southern Poverty Law Center, a Montgomery-based civil rights watch dog group, dismissed its founder Morris Dees, with little detail on what led to the ouster.
Hoover School Officials, Lawyers Seek Feedback on Discrimination for Ongoing Case
Tonight, Hoover school officials and lawyers representing black students in the system want to get community feedback on plans that would show various school policies and practices are not discriminatory. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at Trace Crossings Elementary.
Judge Overturns Confederate Monuments Law
A Jefferson County circuit judge struck down a state law around preserving Confederate monuments, handing Birmingham a victory. The state attorney general says he plans to appeal.
Civil Rights Institute Apologizes as Questions Remain
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute apologized today (Monday) for the way it has handled the Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award and the impact of cancelling the award presentation to human rights activist Angela Davis.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Board Leaders Resign Over Award Controversy
Board leaders for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute stepped down today following days of controversy over a decision to cancel a prestigious award presentation to noted scholar and activist Angela Davis.
Activists Call for Resignations After Davis Controversy
Local activists called for leaders of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to resign today after the organization canceled plans to honor human rights advocate Angela Davis. The group planned to present Davis with the prestigious Fred Shuttlesworth Award next month.
Bradford Family Wants Jefferson County DA to Handle Shooting Case
The lawyer for the family of Emantic Bradford Jr. says State Attorney General Steve Marshall did not follow the normal process when he took over the case from Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr.
Fatal Hoover Police Shooting Prompts Race Debate
The fatal police shooting of a young black man at the Riverchase Galleria mall in Hoover has sparked weeks of vigils, protests and racial unrest. For some it has re-opened old wounds in the Birmingham community, decades after the civil rights movement.
State Attorney General Takes Over Galleria Shooting Case
State Attorney General Steve Marshall announced today his office is taking over the prosecution in the Thanksgiving shootings at the Galleria that left one man fatally shot by a Hoover policeman and two others wounded.
Protests Following Police Shooting Reveal Divide in the Black Community
The police shooting of 21-year-old Emantic Bradford Jr. has sparked frequent protests in Hoover. And while demonstrations played a key role in the struggle for civil rights decades ago, many African Americans today are divided as to whether these marches calling for justice in the wake of Bradford’s killing help or hurt the cause.
Residents and Activists Oppose ABC Coke Air Permit
Speakers at the first hearing Thursday asked the Jefferson County Department of Health not to renew the emissions permit for ABC Coke. Companies with air emissions are required to have permits renewed every four or five years, the health department says.
NAACP Suspends Birmingham President Hezekiah Jackson
The national office of the NAACP has suspended the organization’s local Birmingham President Hezekiah Jackson IV. The NAACP issued a statement Wednesday evening saying it is investigating whether Jackson advised residents not to have their soil tested for potentially damaging toxins and if he received payment for those activities.
A New Play Explores Race Through A 1951 Birmingham Basketball Court
The play "Separate and Equal" by University of Alabama Professor Seth Panitch centers on a hypothetical basketball game between black and white teens in 1951 Birmingham -- a game that would have been illegal.
Appeals Court Ruling Allows Fight for Minimum Wage Increase To Continue
A federal court ruling allows Birmingham minimum wage workers to continue to push for higher pay.
