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PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

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Jontavious Willis at Woodlawn Theatre) (Photo: jontaviouswillis.com)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

TODAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!
**WALE – EVERY BLUE MOON TOUR at Iron City.
**DEAD MAN’S HALLOWEEN PARTY, 5- 10 p.m. at Sidewalk Film.
**DAY OF THE DEAD FOR LOVE RAT, 6 p.m. at Avondale Brewing Co.
**MILK AND HONEY: HALLOWEEN, 8 p.m., at Saturn.
**HALLOWEEN BURLESQUE NIGHT at The Nick with BELLA DONNA at the Nick Rocks.
**LATE NIGHT THURSDAYS with GREAT JANE at The Nick Rocks.
**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**EVERY THURSDAY- THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.
**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.
**FILM at Sidewalk Film.
**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

FRIDAY…
IT IS Friday…the weekend starts…
**COFFEE WITH CREATIVES, 8:30 – 10 a.m. at East Village Arts with Accounting Tips and Insight for Small Businesses and Non-Profits with TALIBAH M. BAYLES. Register, then FREE.
**GUITARIST JONTAVIOUS WILLIS at Woodlawn Theater.
**NATE JACKSON: SUPER FUNNY at the LYRIC THEATRE.
**LATINOS CON ONDA X MELO EVENTS by DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, 4 – 11 p.m. Avondale Brewery
**LATE NIGHT WITH DJ JACK BAMA at The Nick.
**POKEY LAFARGE with THE TAILSPINS at Saturn.
**PLAYIN’ WITH FIRE, 88 DGRZ and FIRE CAMINO at The Nick Rocks.

SATURDAY…
**KARAOKE SATURDAYS, 3 p.m. at 3605 Gray Avenue, Adamsville, with the ALL-EN ONE BBQ with Chef Randy ”Dee” Allen and The Lovely LaToria at the 7 Angels Coffee & Smoothie Café.
**THE CANCELLATIONS WITH CAYLA & MILLENNIAL JONES at The Nick Rocks.
**LATE NIGHT with R.1.Y.T. at The Nick Rocks.
**TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick Rocks.
**HOTEL FICTION with ZION GOINS at Saturn.
**CLUB XCX – CHARLI XCX & HYPERPOP DANCE PARTY, 8 p.m. at Iron City.

SUNDAY…
**SINGO BINGO EVERY SUNDAY, 1 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company.
**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**MIKOL FRACHEY & JOSEPH CULPEPPER at The Nick Rocks.
**EVERY 4TH SUNDAY TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick Rocks.
**AN EVENING WITH BLIP AND FRIENDS: BENEFIT FOR CANCER CARE at Saturn.
**MOJO BROOKZZ at StarDome Comedy Club.

MONDAY…
**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.
**IDKHOW: IMPENDING GLOOM TOUR at Iron City.
**SWEET HOME SPIRITS NIGHT at Birmingham Bandstand (Open Mic) at the Nick.

TUESDAY…
**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE TUESDAYS, 10 p.m. at The Nick Rocks.
**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.
**KEN CARSON – CHAOS TOUR at Iron City.

WEDNESDAY…
**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.
**FIGHT CLUB OPEN DECK with Host LEMON BELOVED! Every Wednesday at The Nick Rocks.
**WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH DJ SUNDROP at The Nick Rocks.
**VINCENT NEIL EMERSON at Saturn.
**BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY at Iron City.

NEXT THURSDAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!.
**WALE – EVERY BLUE MOON TOUR at Iron City.
**CASEY ROCKET at Saturn.
**DAYMARES at the Nick Rocks.
**LATE NIGHT THURSDAYS with GREAT JANE at The Nick Rocks.
**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

NEXT FRIDAY…
**COMEDIAN TIP “T.I” HARRIS featuring the HAHA MAFIA at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**ATLUS with JORDAN GRAY at The Nick Rocks.
**LATE NIGHT WITH DJ JACK BAMA at The Nick.
**POP PLANET: HYPERPOP RAVE at Saturn.
**CAVETOWN at Iron City.

FOR ART LOVERS…
**FRIDAY…A RECEPTION FOR SOLIDARITY, 6-9 p.m., a juried exhibition of works created by members of the Mid-South Sculpture Alliance through November 15 in the Anne Arrasmith Gallery at Space One Eleven on 2nd Avenue North. FREE. Artwork in this exhibition address racial justice, LGBTQIA + rights, gender equality, immigrant and refugee rights and income inequality as well as diverse artistic approaches to highlight pressing global issues.

AT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS…
**NOVEMBER 8 – WILDFLOWER WALK, 10-11:30 a.m. at the Kaul Wildflower Garden with KEITH TURNEY for an autumn walk among the wildflowers that celebrate the diverse flora of Alabama and demonstrates a variety of roles native plants can play in our gardens. Register.
**NOVEMBER 12 – THYME TO READ BOOK CLUB, 4 p.m. book ‘Endangered Eating: America’s Vanishing Foods’ by Sara Lohman. FREE.
**NOVEMBER 12 – NATURE TRIVIA NIGHT, 7-9 p.m. n the Outdoor Classroom. Register.
**NOVEMBER 15 – BACK TO NATURE: FALL TABLE ARRANGEMENTS, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. with ZACHARY WESTALL to learn how to select seasonal plant materials and experiment with composition using unexpected elements to create a stunning arrangement. Register.
**NOVEMBER 21 – FALL BULBS, SPRING FLOWERS, 11 a.m. – NOON with BETHANY O’REAR sharing about spring-blooming bulbs including variety selection, soil preparation and more for garden beds and containers.
**NEW!!!  A NEW HOLIDAY DAY CAMP on NOVEMBER 25 – School Day Out at the Gardens Herb Garden Chefs is what young explorers will enjoy as they take a scavenger hunt to uncover and identify a world of culinary herbs. The journey starts in the new Garden Lab where campers will harvest and prepare fresh ingredients to create a special treat and continues to the Bruno Vegetable Garden where they will dig into the wonders of cool-weather gardening. The camp is for K-5th Grade children that offer hands-on learning, culinary fun and outdoor exploration.

THINGS TO DO or know…in town, around the state…
**NOVEMBER 9 – WAYWARD WHIMSY at WILDFLOWERS CHILDRENS BOUTIQUE in Trussville, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
**NOVEMBER 10 – ONE NIGHT IN HARLEM: A FUNDRAISING EVENT, 6 p.m. at Michael’s Restaurant.
**NOVEMBER 10 – FRIENDS GIVING BRUNCH 2024, 1-3 p.m. at the Trussville Civic Center with COMEDY BY AUNTIE PAM. To register and for more info, go to acaevents.net.
**NOVEMBER 12 – FRESH BLACK FILMS (PAY WHAT YOU CAN), 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Sidewalk Film and the Luminal Theater.
**NOVEMBER 16 – FRENCH MATTING with Patty B. Driscoll, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Space One Eleven.
**NOVEMBER 19-24 – CHICAGO presented by Broadway in Birmingham at BJCC.
**NOVEMBER 21 – JELLY ROLL: BEAUTIFUL BROKEN TOUR, 7 p.m. at The BJCC.

FOR FILM LOVERS…
At Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema…
TODAY …
**EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS starring Andre’Holland, Andra Day and John Earl Jelks.
**STEPHEN KING FEST: THE SHINING, starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd and directed by Stanley Kubrick.
**CARRIE starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, John Travolta and directed by Brian DePalma.
**DEAD MAN’S PARTY – HALLOWEEN NIGHT ONLY (FREE) – All ages can experience a haunted Overlook Hotel atmosphere in the basement of the Pizitz while enjoying Spooky games, a Costume Contest, Specialty Cocktails + Mocktails with a Themed Lobby Programming starting at 5 P.M. – Complimentary Drink Tastings with Easy Hemp Co., Truck Tea and Sunboy, 7 P.M. – Halloween Charades and an In-Person Costume Contest with prizes, 8 P.M. – Jackbox Games on the lobby scenes and 9 P.M. Scary-oke (Halloween Karaoke) hosted by J Matt. RSVP!!!

FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY…
**PARIS, TEXAS 40th ANNIVERSARY 4K RESTORATION starring Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, Dean Stockwell and directed by Wim Wenders.
**A DIFFERENT MAN starring Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson and directed by Aaron Schimberg.

SATURDAY…
**NO ONE ASKED YOU, 8 p.m. with Comedian Lizz Winstead. This is a special one-night only encore.

SUNDAY…
**INTRODUCTION TO SUPER 8 mm + 16 mm with Kodak Film Lab for learning about celluloid formats and capturing a scene using celluloid film. The workshop covers the history of the types of film and cameras also demonstrates film loading and filming exercises.
**GETTING LOST (w/INTRO and Q+A) starring Damon Lindelof, Jorge Garcia, Terry O’Quinn and directed by Taylor Morden.
**DEADLINES for STOWE STORY LABS 2025 NARRATIVE LABS, FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS is November 11. This includes the Seventh Annual Sidewalk Narrative Lab. Stowe has two specific fellowships dedicated to the Sidewalk Narrative Lab. The ‘SAGindie Fellowship’ is awarded annually to a top emerging filmmaker of color. The ‘Law Firm of Stacey A. Davis Fellowship’ is awarded to a woman-identifying emerging screenwriter, filmmaker, and/or creative producer who is over the age of 40. They each cover fee, VIP badge to the festival and $250 travel/lodging stipend to the fellowship winner valued at over $3,000. Apply at: stowestorylabs.submittable.com.

Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send your contact info with your events, your things of interest and more to: gwenderu@yahoo.com and thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com.

Planning for the Holidays, Guarding Against Online Scams

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Birmingham Times
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Well, the ghosts, witches and goblins have had their day with Halloween decorations, trick-or-treaters, Halloween parties and haunted houses. Now it’s time to switch and gear up for the two big upcoming holidays – Thanksgiving and Christmas. These two holidays are the biggest of the year as well as the most popular in America.

Because of the amount of people who celebrate these holidays, our next safety series will focus on tips on how to stay safe while preparing and enjoying these holidays. Let’s do a quick overview of upcoming safety topics you can expect to read about.

Our first topic in our holiday safety smarts series will focus on online shopping scams in 2024. Tech thieves (online scammers) are always plotting ways new technology can benefit them. Their pursuit in ways to steal your hard-earned dollars is crafty and endless.

American consumers lost an average of over $1,500 in holiday shopping scams in 2022 per All About Cookies research. Online shopping scams were among the riskiest scams in 2023, according to the most recent Better Business Bureau (BB) Institute Online Scams Report. Not only are these scams common, but 82 percent of those targeted in online shopping scams reported losing money. So, in the newest safety series, we will draw attention to some of the latest safety online pitfalls to avoid in 2024.

We will continue over the upcoming weeks in our Holiday Safety Smarts series ways you can safely decorate your resident both inside and out. We will also explore how to safely order food for your holiday feasts online, which can be convenient and a lifesaver during the holidays. Traditional holiday safety tips when shopping for presents and food will also be included.

We will not forget about those of you traveling over the holidays. A safety article focusing on travel safety during the holidays will also be highlighted. 15 percent of consumers say they have experienced fraud when booking. We will highlight holiday safety dealing with charitable giving along with gift card scams. One in four people has given or received a gift card with no balance.

As you can read, we have a great deal of safety topics to cover, so let’s get started with our first online Holiday Safety Smarts tip.

Beware of Online Markets: Practice extra caution or simply avoid shopping on sites such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, NextDoor and other online marketplaces.

If you are buying directly from a person and paying cash, you will not have the same purchase protections you would if you would buy from a reputable retailer.

Where the holidays can contain some dangerous safety pitfalls, it is also a time that brings joy, time off from work and days spent with family. Our goal in our newest Keeping an Eye on Safety series is meant to help protect you so you can cherish your holiday experiences.

“I will miss the customers. Serving the community, helping people who were just getting back on their feet. We’ve been going down there (to the car wash) since we were little. There’s a lot of memories.”

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Birmingham Times
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APRIL PRITCHETT-WHITE ON THE CLOSING OF THEIR ETHERIDGE CAR WASH AFTER 31 YEARS. THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES, OCT. 31.

 

Birmingham’s EPIC Elementary School Celebrates Honor of Being Named Among Nation’s Best

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Birmingham Times
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Epic Elementary School Principal Aulundria Grace with State Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

It was a gathering of EPIC portions on Tuesday at one Birmingham Elementary School as students, facility, and staff celebrated being named a National Blue Ribbon School, one of the nation’s top education honors.

This is the second time that Educational Plan for the Individual Child (E.P.I.C) Elementary, located in the heart of Birmingham’s Southside near UAB, has received the honor. The last time was in the early 90’s. The State Department of Education nominated EPIC. A total of five Alabama schools were named a National blue Ribbon School this year, said State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey.

“We look for schools that have really outstanding academic achievement and growth,” he said. “They also consider historic gains made by students year over year, as well as the overall character of a school,” he added.

During Tuesday’s ceremony held in the school’s gymnasium, Principal Aulundria Grace said, “in education, it truly takes a village where everyone must invest in our school’s vision where we strive to prepare our scholars to lead in a global society. As the instructional leader of EPIC, I want to thank everyone for believing that we are the best at getting better …”

Dr. Mark Sullivan, BCS Superintendent, said the success at EPIC is an example of achievement throughout the school district. All EPIC third-grade students met the reading requirement on spring assessments in 2024. Sullivan said he looks forward to continued success at EPIC.

Epic Elementary Band, led by Tamara Travis. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

The Blue Ribbon distinction highlights schools across the country that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups. Each nominated school submits a comprehensive application detailing its school culture, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, family, and community involvement.

Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said, “The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools.

“The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue-Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

Next week, EPIC will be recognized for the honor in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of Education. On Nov. 14, EPIC will be recognized during a meeting of the Alabama State Board of Education.

T. Marie King, Founder Black Lens and Shorts, to Step Away From Sidewalk Film Festival

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Birmingham Times
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T. Marie King created a showcase at Sidewalk Film Festival which highlighted films that not only center on Black characters and Black culture but also are created by Black filmmakers. (File)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

T. Marie King, who spearheaded the launch of Black Lens at Birmingham’s Sidewalk Film Festival, will begin a new chapter, she announced on social media this week.

“I have a few projects I’m working on and I’m working on a play I’m about to start raising more [for] that I want to produce next year,” King told The Birmingham Times on Tuesday.

King created a showcase in Birmingham which highlighted films that not only center on Black characters and Black culture but also are created by Black filmmakers.

“I wanted to see different stories from the Black community highlighted,” she told the Birmingham Times in a 2023 interview, explaining that she was interested in seeing a variety of Black films, including comedy, horror, and love stories.

“I’m trying to make sure I hit the intersections within our community,” added King, who served as lead shorts programmer and Black Lens programmer at Sidewalk. “We’re not a monolithic group of folks.”

This week, she wrote on social media, “As I step into a new chapter, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been a part of my journey with Sidewalk. Your support has meant so much to me.”

She wrote, “To the Sidewalk team, thank you for your collaboration, encouragement, and trust. Being a volunteer and programmer has been an honor and a joy, and I couldn’t have done it without you.”

King also thanked Chloe Cook, who serves as executive director of Sidewalk and has been with the organization for nearly 16 years, “for always being the biggest cheerleader behind the scenes, center stage and giving me freedom to grow a vision for Black Lens and Shorts.”

King, 44, is a W. K. Kellogg Foundation-trained facilitator, who leads race-reconciliation workshops across the region.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Global Economic Development and a master’s degree in Leadership and Divinity.

Some of her notable work includes “Shuttlesworth,” co-produced with J. Hardy Whitson through the support of Alabama Public Television, which chronicles the life and work of Birmingham Civil Rights activist the Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth.

In her post this week, King wrote in part,

“To the incredible Birmingham community, thank you for always showing up, embracing both the lighthearted moments and the tougher, raw discussions. I loved sharing laughs, hosting shenanigans, and also witnessing your willingness to be vulnerable with challenging films and meaningful conversations.

“Finally, to every organization that sponsored a Black Lens screening or contributed in-kind services, your support was instrumental in making those events successful and impactful. I’m going to miss it all deeply, but I leave with gratitude and anticipation for what’s to come. See you at the movies.”

‘I Wasn’t Shy About Kissing My Bride, She Was [My Wife] and I Went For It’

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Birmingham Times
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BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times

BERNICE & JOE COOPER

Live: Pine Ridge [Oxmoor area]

Married: Feb. 11, 1961

Met: November 1959, at Bernice’s family home in Birmingham in the Airport Hills neighborhood. Her uncle, who was close in age to her, lived with their family and worked with Joe for a cleaning service. Bernice and Joe met one Saturday evening when he gave her uncle a ride home from work.

“I spoke to Bernice and she smiled and we chatted for a while and that’s the way it got started,” recalled Joe.

“He was dark and handsome and when he came in the house behind my uncle I thought he was a nice-looking guy. I was 19, and I wasn’t looking for a husband because I was raised that he [her future husband] had to find me,” said Bernice.

“I asked her if I could call her and she said ‘yes’, and I called her the next day. I remember going to see her once or twice at her house to sofa sit because I had to gain her mother and father’s confidence; I wanted them to know what kind of man I was before I asked to take her out,” Joe said.

First date: December 1959. They hung out at Bernice’s girlfriend’s home in the Brookside area. “There were other people there, it was a get-together, my sister and my uncle were there too… I was just happy to be out and alone with Joe,” she said.

“I remember having a nice conversation. We were still getting to know one another. I didn’t try to pressure her in any kind of way, I wanted to make sure she understood I was a good human being… My father and older brothers taught me to treat my girlfriend the way I would want my sister to be treated and that’s what I did,” he said.

The turn: Late January 1960, Joe and Bernice realized they had “the real thing.”

“I asked Bernice to be my girlfriend after the first or second date, but we grew closer with each day that passed and got more comfortable with one another,” he said. “And as our confidence in each other grew, that’s when we realized we had the real thing with one another.”

“We talked every day and I used to wait for him to call because we were getting closer and understanding each other better. And I realized I was falling in love with him after Christmas [1959] had passed,” she said.

The proposal: November 1960, at Bernice’s home in Birmingham in the Airport Hills neighborhood. This was the night they were going to tell Bernice’s parents that they had agreed to marry.

A few weeks prior, “we were sitting on the sofa and I asked her if she would marry me and she said ‘yes’. And we kept it to ourselves for a couple of weeks and kept discussing it, and then one night right before Thanksgiving, we decided to tell her parents,” Joe recalled. “I told her father that I would like to speak with him and Mrs. Jackson for a minute and I told him my plan and asked him did they have any objection to me marrying her, and neither of them objected,” Joe said.

“I knew they would agree because they respected my opinion, so it went just fine. They agreed wholeheartedly. I was the oldest of seven, and they were happy to give my hand in marriage,” Bernice said.

Bernice and Joe Cooper met at her home in Birmingham in 1959. The couple married in 1961. (Provided Photos)

The wedding: At Bernice’s family home in Birmingham. Her father built an arch, dressed it with flowers and greenery, and made the flower bouquet she walked down the aisle with. Their colors were red, white, and black, and the ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Bowens, of Pleasant View Missionary Baptist Church.

Most memorable for the bride “was when it was over,” Bernice laughed. “It was very stressful and nerve-wracking getting everything ready because it was mainly me and my father getting [preparing everything]. And when they said ‘you shall now cleave unto your wife and they shall be one flesh’, I was happy that it was over and that we were married,” Bernice said.

Most memorable for the groom “was when the preacher said, ‘you are now husband and wife.’ When he told me that I was happy. I wasn’t shy about kissing my bride, she was mine and I went for it,” Joe laughed.

Words of wisdom: “Don’t live with anybody, it’s best to leave father and mother and establish your own home and cleave to one another. Keep Christ in the center of your home and continue your courtship. Remember that God joined you together, pray together always, and never retire for the night angry with each other,” Bernice said. “Agree that divorce is not the answer. Remember that criticism is nagging and that destroys love, so try not to criticize so much. Love is something you have to work on daily. You should be reasonable in money matters, and be determined to speak softly and kindly.”

“What helped me along in my marriage is my upbringing. I come from a good home, and my mother and father taught me [life principles], and told me to listen to their advice because one day I would have a family of my own and would be able to make good godly decisions,” Joe said. “My mother used to talk with me about how I should treat my wife and those were regular conversations. I respected my mother and father so much, and that’s why I respect my wife so much and as I grew older; I always remembered [my parents] advice.”

Happily ever after: The Coopers attend Liberty Faith Christian Church in Bessemer, where Joe serves as an Elder, and Bernice is a Mother of the Church. They have three adult daughters: Robin Cooper, Yolanda Pearson, and Josette Cooper, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Bernice, 84, is a Birmingham native, and Hooper City High School grad. She attended Lawson State Community College, where she earned an associate’s degree in office management. She worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama for more than 25 years before retiring in 1999 and spends her retirement side by side with her husband.

Joe, 84, a Union Springs, Alabama, native, attended Merritt High School, and worked at Merita Bread Bakery for 33 years before retiring in 2002. He spends his retirement “trying to please my wife,” he laughed.

“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to Barnett Wright bwright@birminghamtimes.com. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

Legendary Rapper Doug E. Fresh Makes Surprise Appearance at Birmingham’s A.H. Parker School

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Birmingham Times
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Legendary rapper Doug E. Fresh, who appeared at Birmingham's A.H. Parker High School last week, knows what it means to be able to fight in a way so that you can live to see another day, said St. Rep. Juandalynn Givan, who hosted a panel discussion at the school. (BCS/Facebook Photo)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

Ahead of his performance during a Magic City Classic showcase last week, legendary rapper Doug E. Fresh participated in an anti-violence panel discussion at Birmingham’s A.H. Parker High School.

The rapper talked about growing up in Harlem, New York, in the 80s, at the height of the crack era and asked, “How many of y’all know somebody that used drugs, and later they’re not the same anymore? So guess what? So as much as you believe that the drug is making you feel good, it’s actually destroying you,” he said.

In the early 1980s Fresh was part of two songs, “The Show” and “La Di Da Di“, which are considered early hip hop classics. “La Di Da Di”, in particular, is one of the most sampled songs in music history.

His Birmingham visit was hosted by State Representative Juandalynn Givan who was joined on the panel by Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr as well as other law enforcement officials who spoke words of encouragement to the ninth through 12th graders.

Fresh encouraged the students to have conversations with those older who have their best interests in mind. “What you’re going to see is that you don’t know as much as you think you know. You’ll learn that as smart as you think you are, you’ll be shocked at how much you don’t know,” he said.

Students packed the auditorium at Birmingham’s A.H. Parker High School last week to head legendary rapper Doug E. Fresh. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

Givan said Fresh was speaking to an important demographic. “He’s doing this out of generosity from his heart,” she said. “… We have a killing issue in the city of Birmingham. We have an issue with our youth somewhere between 15 to 18.”

During the panel discussion, Givan said, “We wanted him to come because being from New York, he knows what it means to walk those mean streets. He knows what it means to hustle and to avoid those bullets. Most importantly he knows what it means to simply be able to fight in a way so that you can live to see another day.”

Carr told the students that if they commit a crime, that can mean life in prison or even the death penalty. “You can choose to participate in crime, but you can’t choose the consequences,” he said.

People With Type 2 Diabetes May Discontinue Medication After Low-Carb Diet, New UAB Research Suggests

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Birmingham Times
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New research finds that a low-carbohydrate diet may improve beta-cell function in people with Type 2 diabetes. (File)

New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, shows that adults with Type 2 diabetes who follow a low-carbohydrate diet might experience improvements in their beta-cell function, potentially helping them manage their condition more effectively and potentially reduce or eliminate the need for medication.

More than 38 million Americans have diabetes, and more than 90 percent of them have Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually presents in people who are 45 or older. However, it is becoming more common in children, teenagers and young adults too.

People with Type 2 diabetes have a compromised beta-cell response to blood sugar, possibly due in part to eating too many carbohydrates. Beta-cell failure or insufficiency on top of insulin resistance is responsible for the development and progression of Type 2 diabetes.

Beta-cells are endocrine cells in the pancreas that produce and release insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels.

“This study shows that people with Type 2 diabetes on a low-carbohydrate diet can recover their beta-cells, an outcome that cannot be achieved with medication,” said lead study author Barbara Gower, Ph.D., chair of the UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences. “People with mild Type 2 diabetes who reduce their carbohydrate intake may be able to discontinue medication and enjoy eating meals and snacks that are higher in protein and meet their energy needs.”

The study compared two groups of adults with Type 2 diabetes: one group followed a low-carb diet, and the other followed a high-carb diet. Researchers wanted to see how these diets affected beta-cell function and insulin secretion.

The study found that the low-carb diet improved beta-cell function and insulin secretion, even after accounting for any weight loss. This means the benefits of the low-carb diet were not just because people lost weight.

1208561232384175.e6bLqwB00e2SVYmRy6pl height640
Barbara Gower, Ph.D. (UAB)

Participants were asked to stop taking their diabetes medication before the study started so any changes in their health could be linked to the diet.

All participants were given their meals as part of the study. The low-carb diet was low in carbs and high in fat, while the high-carb diet was high in carbs and low in fat.

The researchers found those on a low-carbohydrate versus a high-carbohydrate diet saw improvements in the acute and maximal beta-cell responses that were twofold and 22 percent greater, respectively. Within each race group, Black adults on a low-carbohydrate diet saw 110 percent greater improvements in the acute beta-cell response and White adults had improvements in the maximal beta-cell response that were 48 percent greater than their respective counterparts on the high-carbohydrate diet.

“Further research is needed to determine if a low-carbohydrate diet can restore beta-cell function and lead to remission in people with Type 2 diabetes,” Gower said.

Other study authors include Amy Goss, Marian Yurchishin and William Garvey of the University of Alabama at Birmingham; Sarah Deemer of the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas; and Bhuvana Sunil of the University of Washington and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, Washington.

This research received financial support from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the Nutrition Obesity Research Center of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Diabetes Research Center, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Kareem Keye, Minor High School Grad, Tosses 2 Touchdown Passes, Leads ASU Past AAMU in 83rd Magic City Classic

By
Birmingham Times
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Alabama State Hornets head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. with the Magic City Classic Trophy at Legion Field in Birmingham on Saturday October 26, 2024. (City of Birmingham, FB Page)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

Kareem Keye threw two touchdown passes, Daquon Kincey ran for 156 yards, and Alabama State held off Alabama A&M 27-19 on Saturday in the 83rd annual Magic City Classic at historic Legion Field Stadium in Birmingham.

With both teams needing a win to keep pace with SWAC east division-leading Jackson State, ASU (4-3, overall, 3-1 conference) gave Adamsville native and Minor High School alum Keye his first-ever start.

While Keye had seen time under center this season, most recently vs. Mississippi Valley State, his first-ever start on one of the biggest stages in HBCU football, is much different.

Keye hit Asa Gregg with a 31-yard touchdown pass early in the game and added a 6-yard scoring toss to Derick Harden to lead the Hornets to a 17-3 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, the Hornets added Brandon Gilliams’ second field goal and a long pick-6 by Ta’Shaun Sims for a 27-3 lead heading to the fourth.

Alabama A&M (3-4, 1-2) closed the gap on touchdown passes of 65 and 31 yards from Xavier Lankford to Keenan Hambrick. The Bulldogs added a two-point conversion after each score and trailed 27-19 with 5 minutes remaining. Lankford was intercepted on AAMU’s only remaining possession.

Keye completed 14 of 20 passes for 131 yards.

Lankford completed 13 of 26 passes for 207 yards with two TDs and two picks. Hambrick caught 5 for 139 yards and both of Lankford’s touchdowns.

In the SWAC East race, the Hornets remain a game behind Jackson State in a second-place tie with Florida A&M (Rattlers, of course, have the head-to-head tiebreaker but lose that tiebreaker to Jackson State).

Overall conference records may have to be considered if a three-way tie occurs, but the good news for Bama State is that this possibility still exists.

After games against Alcorn State and Grambling, they’ll face the Tigers on Nov. 16 in Montgomery. That will likely be the day we crown an official SWAC East champion.

Associated Press contributed to this post 

Meet Derrick Kern: Winner of Magic City Fashion Week Emerging Designer Competition

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Birmingham Times
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Derrick Kern said his mission is to make everybody happy with his clothing and make it more accessible and more affordable to kids who can’t afford it. (Provided Photo)

By Ameera Steward | The Birmingham Times

Along with restaurants, tailgates, HBCU fans and the local economy, count Derrick Kern, a 20-year-old from Aurora, Colorado, among the winners in Birmingham last week.

Kern was named Magic City Fashion Week’s Emerging Designer in a competition that took place at Events at Haven in Birmingham.

“I am so excited and thrilled to be recognized by the amazing judges assembled for Magic City Fashion Week 2024,” Kern told The Birmingham Times. “I am motivated to continue my pursuit and establish myself as an emerging designer with the fashion industry.”

Through his brand ‘Key to Life is Love,’ Kern presented a collection with a new take on the distressed look of clothing. The focus of his designs was “enabling fashion enthusiasts to consider sustainability by retrofitting [add (a component or accessory) to something that did not have it when manufactured] existing items and mixing them with new items that have pops of color and different fabrics,” he said.

Made with all genders in mind, ‘Key to Life is Love’ is a streetwear brand that bridges the gap between “casual” and “fancy” by offering “pieces that are versatile [so] you can wear them for a casual work day or a night out,” he added.

Ranging from $50 to $130, Kern’s designs are made with happiness in mind.

“My mission is to make everybody happy with my clothing and…eventually make it more accessible and more affordable to kids who can’t afford it,” said Kern. “I come from a place of not always having the best stuff, but now that I’m in a better place I want to create an even better future for the youth, and people who really like my designs.”

Struggle Breeds Inspiration

Growing up in Aurora, Kern was one of the children he strives to help now. He said he didn’t always have the best clothing and his parents couldn’t always afford what was trending. He asked himself, “‘why don’t I just make my own clothes?’”

Fashion designs by Derrick Kern. (Provided)

In 2022, after graduating from Vista Peak High School [located in Aurora, Col.] Kern began making his own clothes. He was also working at Target, and although he had the money to afford what he wanted, he thought “[I] might as well wear what I want to create in this life.”

Kern started looking at other designs helping him figure out what he really liked. “I taught myself how to create the designs and then found a manufacturer to help produce the items,” he said. “I did go to school for graphic design to learn how to do graphics” as well.

In addition to graphic design, he studied film and video production at Pickens Technical College, located in Aurora and graduated in 2023, the same year he started to fully produce under his brand name.

After marketing his designs on social media, “[the attention his brand received is] what motivated me to continue with more of my ideas,” he said.

With his unisex designs influenced by New York style, Kern is inspired to create the things he wishes to see in the industry that “nobody’s ever made.”

“And honestly, a designer called Virgil Abloh inspired me,” he added. “He passed away unfortunately, but when he was still alive he inspired me with a lot of designs [and] his uniqueness … It’s not about making the best clothes, it’s about making clothes that make people happy [with] what they…wear.”

Magic City Fashion Week

Fashion designs by Derrick Kern. (Provided)

Founded in 2017 to cultivate, connect, showcase, and provide economic opportunity to Birmingham’s creative community through fashion, MCFW emphasizes the development of emerging designers while fostering engagement with community partners to utilize fashion as a vehicle for change.

With this goal in mind each season includes an emerging designer competition fashion show as the main event where emerging designers showcase their collections to a group of judges who then choose a winner who is usually given a prize as well as mentorship to officially present their collection to a wider audience.

In 2023, while selling his designs at the Black Arts Festival in Denver, a recurring customer told Kern that his work was amazing and needed to be seen. The customer asked if he had ever heard of MCFW, which Kern hadn’t.

“So he’s telling me…it’s an amazing fashion show, [and] Birmingham is an amazing place,” explained Kern. “He was…explaining how it brings [people] together [and how] it could bring a lot of opportunities. I was very interested.”

After the festival, the first thing he and his mom did when they returned home was research MCFW, and “we were like we’ve got to do this…we [have] to show more people my creative thoughts.”

And that’s exactly what he did when reaching Birmingham. Kern’s creative thoughts hit the runway in such a way that he went home with a win.

He expressed that reaching this point with his designs after being incapable of affording the clothes he wanted when he was younger is mind blowing.

“Praying gets you a long way,” Kern said. “I wouldn’t have expected stuff to change so fast…we went through hard times…but you have to go through hard times to get to the best times. It’s a big…change in life, and I’m just excited for the opportunity that I have” to create his own designs.

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