ESSENCE serves Community of Mobile Super-Users with launch of new iPhone app

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August 22, 2013

ESSENCE, the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women, announces the launch of its newest iPhone app. Available for download from the App Store, the app will continue to allow ESSENCE to serve its community of mobile super users. ESSENCE’s new app debuts with robust content from the magazine’s annual September Fashion issue, including its cover story featuring singer and X Factor host Kelly Rowland; a Fall 2013 style guide; expert beauty tips and more.
For more than 43 years, ESSENCE continues to implement innovative strategies to service its loyal community of 9.8 million readers. The launch of ESSENCE’s iPhone app is a natural progression for the brand, as African-American women continue to over-index in the mobile and social media landscapes. In July, ESSENCE also launched its 2013 ESSENCE Festival app, which helped attendees of the record-breaking Festival to stay in-the-know during the annual July Fourth Weekend festivities.
Recent stats show that African-American women lead their mainstream counterparts when using mobile to:
•   Read magazines
•   Watch TV shows/movies
•   Shop, research or buy products
The launch of ESSENCE’s app will also provide an opportunity for advertisers to see the strength of this still under-tapped audience, as the brand continues to develop and implement creative strategies to engage and service its core audience.
“One of the reasons for ESSENCE’s continuous success is our willingness to not only serve but to also evolve with our audience—who today have grown into a community of mobile super-users,” said Michelle Ebanks, President of ESSENCE Magazine. “With the launch of our latest iPhone app, ESSENCE continues to demonstrate its commitment to meeting the needs of our audience wherever they are.”

Homicide Investigation

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Birmingham Times

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August 22, 2013

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The Birmingham Police Department reports that a suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with a homicide investigation. The victim was discovered on Sunday, August 18, 2013 at approximately 1:00 a.m. at 44th Place North and 8th Avenue Alley.

The victim has been identified as:
Justin Kindred, B/M, 23, of Birmingham, Alabama.

The suspect has been identified as:
William Golden, 19, of Birmingham, Alabama. A Capital Murder warrant with no bond has been obtained against the suspect.

The suspect was arrested by the BPD Crime Reduction Team on Monday, August 18, 2013 after information developed through the investigation that the suspect was responsible for the victim’s death. The suspect is in the custody of the Jefferson County Jail.

Alabama Power Executive Joins Board of Trustees

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Birmingham Times

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August 22, 2013

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TUSKEGEE, Ala. — Jonathan Porter, director of customer services for Alabama Power Company is the newest member of the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees. A native of Bessemer, Ala., Porter is an alumnus who graduated in 1995. He has been actively engaged on campus for a number of years and has facilitated workshops and served as a speaker for student events.
“I am truly humbled and honored to serve on the Board of Trustees for Tuskegee University,” Porter said. “I look forward to working with the Board for the advancement of Tuskegee University for generations to come.”
Alabama Power provides electricity to more than 1.4 million customers across the state of Alabama. Porter is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction to the residential and commercial/industrial customer service centers which operate 24 hours per day and seven days a week responding to approximately 7 million calls a year. He also leads initiatives with management from various company departments to enhance customer experience.
Porter has held various positions including: senior corporate recruiter, senior HR business representative, assistant business office manager, lead HR business consultant, and assistant to the executive vice president of external affairs, and Birmingham division area manager. Prior to joining Alabama Power, he worked as an underwriting analyst for Protective Life Corporation and as a manager at INROADS, Inc.
Porter serves as a member of the board of directors for such organizations, including: REV Birmingham, Jefferson County Education Foundation, Jefferson County Economic & Industrial Authority, and INROADS, Inc. (Southeast region). Porter has previously served on the boards of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, National Association of African Americans in HR, National Black MBA Association, and PING (Partnership in Neighborhood Growth). Porter serves as a distinguished member of the Newcomer Society of Alabama.
Porter graduated cum laude from Tuskegee with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He was also a 4-year letterman in football and was an All Conference Scholar-Athlete from 1991-1994. Porter later received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1997.
He is also a 2011 graduate of Leadership Birmingham, graduate of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce’s Project Corporate Leadership program, graduate of the Alabama Power Company Leadership Development program, and past participant in the Alabama Leadership Initiative. Porter has been featured in the Who’s Who in Black Birmingham and was recognized as a “Top 40 Under 40” by the Birmingham Business Journal.

SPEAKING OF SOAPS

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Birmingham Times

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August 22, 2013

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BY MEREDITH COOPER
NOW IN ITS 36TH YEAR

ALL MY CHILDREN

Dixie was brimming with confidence when Dr. Anders complimented her on being named director of the Miranda Center, so she took a chance and invited him out to have dinner with her. Brooke was upset when JR messed up the reel for the gala. JR didn’t take criticism very well and got into it with Adam, who said he was a total embarrassment and certainly no businessman. David told Cara that JR has a nasty temper. Later Cara got a taste of JR’s bad temper when she tried to suggest to him that he overreacted to criticism. JR turned on Cara and accused her of being a fair weather friend who was using him to keep her secret. Later, however, JR cooled off and apologized to her. Miranda consoled AJ when he told her how disappointed he was in JR’s behavior, but when AJ tried to get closer to Miranda, so moved away from him. Jesse blew a fuse when he saw Angie and David sharing a dance. Jesse and David got into a fist fight and have to be separated. Nobody was watching Oliver and he wound up unconscious after slipping away to eat some candy.

THIS WEEK: Dimitri makes his move on Brooke and tries to kiss her. Cara fights to save Oliver.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

Bill was taken aback when Katie asked for a second chance and vowed to return to being the woman that she was when they got married. Despite her suppressed feelings for Bill, Brooke encouraged him to accept Katie’s offer. Feeling as though Liam doesn’t deserve the life that he has, Wyatt vowed to change things. Liam asked Hope to move into his house with him and Wyatt. Brooke attempted to refrain from commenting when Katie blamed her for the demise of her marriage to Bill. Unable to contain her opinion any longer, Brooke unleashed blame back upon Katie. Learning that Hope’s moving in with him and Liam, Wyatt was thrilled that he will have many opportunities to get her to fall for him. Brooke was distraught by the decision she made that could affect her relationship with Katie and Hope. Rick and Caroline frantically worked to prepare for the big Hope for the Future rebranding fashion show. Thinking that Rick will not accomplish the hefty goal set for the company, Thorne and Thomas sat back and waited to take over Forrester Creations. Rafael pondered telling Caroline about a juicy piece of gossip. Overwhelmed with guilt, Maya consulted with Carter whether or not to confess to Rick about their one night together. Rafael desperately attempted to get in touch with Caroline to let her know about Maya and Carter. Thorne and Thomas anticipated moving out of their basement offices when Rick’s rebranding of Hope for the Future fails. Rick and Caroline became concerned when their new collection didn’t get the reaction from the press and buyers that they were hoping for. Thomas and Thorne watched the failure with glee and eagerly awaited Eric firing Rick.

THIS WEEK: Caroline contemplates telling Rick about Maya and Carter. The reaction to the Hope for the Future rebranding fashion show is lackluster.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES

Jennifer covered for Kristen when Nicole spied them with a pregnancy test. But she paid a price when Nicole blabbed to Daniel that Jennifer is pregnant! Eric saw Vargas’ true colors. Later, Theresa made a date with the ex-con. Sami and EJ argued about Rafe. Rafe grew frustrated with his physical therapist. Victor convinced Marlena to work with him to break up Brady and Kristen. Later, Marlena overheard Kristen talking on the phone and learned an incriminating bit of information. Theresa made a move on Daniel. Chad surprised Abigail with a sweet gesture. After throwing Cameron under the bus, he then asked Abigail out on a date. Armed with damning information, Marlena conspired with Victor to destroy Kristen. While Will and Sonny celebrated the grand opening of the newly renovated club, a lonely Gabi sought solace from Nick. The celebration at the club was interrupted when Theresa and Vargas’ date ended in violence. EJ made a bold – and highly illegal – move to help Sami’s case. Cameron was concerned for Chad when he got injured during the brawl at the club. Vargas was sent back to prison – due in large part to Theresa’s shenanigans. Kate angrily confronted Stefano about what he really intended to do to Rafe. Nick and Gabi made love! The special prosecutor offered Sami a reduced sentence – but it would come at very high personal cost. While working together, Daniel and Jennifer grew close. Later, JJ walked in on an intimate moment between them. Hope confronted Theresa about her involvement with Vargas.

THIS WEEK: Theresa makes a date with Vargas. The club celebration ends in violence.

GENERAL HOSPITAL

Luke was confronted with what he least expected. Maxie was confronted with many complications that arose all at once – emotional, physical, and mental. Derek started to regain his memory including his liaison with Alexis. Tracy enjoyed tormenting A.J. regarding ELQ. Michael desperately tried to find an enraged AJ before Sonny. Connie was upset at finding Olivia with Sonny. Olivia questioned Sonny’s heart. Connie wanted to speak with Sonny in private, but as Dante told him about Maxie going into labor, Sonny rushed to the hospital instead of talking to Connie. Maxie’s complications on all levels went from bad to worse. The baby was in severe distress. Kiki questioned Morgan if he knew the truth before their rushed wedding. Sonny and Olivia received some unexpected news from Mac and Felicia – Morgan and Kiki were married. Maxie had an unexpected person show up during one of the worst moments of her life – Spinelli at her bedside. Ava walked in on Kiki and Franco. A.J. fell off the wagon and was completely enraged about the story that destroyed his life. Luke & Laura, Sonny & Olivia and Mac & Felicia all met at the hospital to celebrate a new life – however, everything did not go as expected. Maxie had an out of body experience. Alexis and Sam got the good news that a bone marrow match has been found for Danny. Connie overheard Derek referring to himself as Jillian – but he was able to cover. A.J. drank more and more – then hallucinated visions that incited him to action. A gunshot shattered Port Charles. Michael was frantic – trying to find A.J. Olivia told Sonny she knows the truth. Michael finally got a moment alone with Kiki to reveal the truth about Morgan. An out-of-control Maxie awakened and was completely hysterical – as the doctors try to sedate her, she said too much from her bed.

THIS WEEK: Derek starts to remember his past. Sonny reveals his true feelings to Connie.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE

Jeffrey was up to no good when he secretly broke into Clint’s office and slipped some strange pills into Clint’s bottle of pills. He was almost caught by Matthew. Clint flew into a rage when he found out that the board voted took away his award. Bo was conflicted when he was voted by the board to be their Man of the Year, instead. Nora thought that Clint will not be pleased to hear this news and warned Bo about it. Bo shrugged and said that things were so bad between him and Clint that he wouldn’t matter much. Cutter made Natalie upset when she believed he was guilty of extortion. Jeffrey reported back to Carl, who congratulated himself on a job well done. Then Carl told him that Allison was holding Victor captive so he wouldn’t get in the way. He also told Jeffrey that he had set a trap for Todd. Viki and Clint fought about Clint’s drinking problem. It only made things worse between them and Clint wound up back at his office looking for more booze to drink.

THIS WEEK: Tea demands some answers from Dani. Nikki lets Natalie know that she and Cutter have been intimate for some time.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
The blogger called Neil a murderer and said that they won’t reveal themselves until he has lost more than they have. Cane and Lily refused to believe that Neil killed someone. Sharon received a traffic ticket with a photo of her behind the wheel from the night of Phyllis’ accident at the Gala. When Nick asked about it, Sharon tried to play it cool and said that she needed to renew her driver’s license. Later, Adam asked Sharon to be a character witness for him. Nick cautioned Sharon against supporting Adam even if he’s innocent. Sharon told Adam that she knows he isn’t guilty of hurting Melanie but she can’t be a witness for him. Avery arrived at the tack house looking for Nick. When she went over to Sharon’s house, Avery found Sharon cozied up to Nick on the couch. Avery and Sharon had an awkward encounter that left Avery uneasy. Later, Avery told Nick that she wanted to get married right away. Several of the residents of Genoa City received postcards from Katherine, inviting them to the Chancellor mansion. Nikki told Victor that she looked forward to seeing her dearest friend again. Lily and Cane headed over to the mansion and discussed the postcards with Esther and Jill. Chloe, Devon, and Kevin joined the group as they prepared to welcome Katherine home. Jill got a call from Murphy who apologized for being late and asked everyone to stay put until he arrived. Victor mentioned that Katherine’s trip sounded like a once in a lifetime adventure. While Jill speculated about the significance of Katherine’s postcards, Murphy arrived. When everyone questioned where Katherine was, Murphy slowly revealed the details of Katherine’s final days and let them know that she’d passed away. Michael and Lauren brought Paul a flower box with eleven dead roses that contained a note from Carmine. Paul assured them they would find him. Alex informed them that he had traced Carmine to a motel room. When Paul tried to stop Michael from going after him, Michael lashed out and punched Paul.

THIS WEEK: Paul handcuffs Michael to a chair as Lauren tries to talk some sense into him. Sharon assures Cassie that she will stop Nick from marrying Avery.

FROM THE HORN OF THE UNICORN

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Birmingham Times

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August 22, 2013

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Psalm 92:10 KJV reads, “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of the unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”
Interpretation: Israelites must return to Ethiopa: Israel shall be restored to its normal state and be free from corruption.

FIFTH COMMANDMENT
Ex.20; 12 NKJV reads, “Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”
Interpretation
by Rachel Royal

African men, show respect for your Creator and discharge foreign legislation from our land. We are the Exile of Judah, and you men are the enforcers of our King, Emperor Haile Selassie I’s legislation. It is your responsibility to administer the laws that our King has laid out for our nation. Stop reducing yourselves to the servitude of other governments. Refusing to uphold our King’s laws causes our people to fall victim to their judicial system.
Their method of governing is their strategy to persecute our race. Their policies declare war against our people, where we are exposed to destruction. We are dying from war, diseases, famine, poverty, and imprisonment. These untimely deaths are genocide for us. This misfortune comes from their management. Your government can shield us from this persecution and oppressive politics. Stop trusting in foreign council and attend to the needs of our nation. We have borne witness to the unfair treatment and prejudice in their justice system.
It is vital that you recognize these facts and move in a different direction from being wiped out and towards our safety and prosperity. Our King’s laws teach the right way to protect ourselves and not their legal systems. Uphold our King’s righteous laws and secure our resources. Provide us with adequate income to sustain our living and to ensure our children’s future.
Use your legal authority to remove all foreign officials from office. Enforce the laws of commerce according to our King, and prohibit foreign governments from importing, exporting, and manufacturing our resources. Manage the economic life of our nation, and furnish our people with their share of the land allotted by our King. Promote the development and growth of agriculture to keep up with the demands of our country and to help support the expenses of your government. Register all accounts and regulate all our expenses, keep an account on what funds and property that is available that you may know what can be drawn upon for aid to take care of the needs of our people in any situation including if any emergencies arise.
African men, we must cultivate our own grain and raise our own livestock to provide food for our economy. Set up our King’s regulations for producing goods and distributing meats. Set aside funds to build our own domestic industries. Hire representatives who are experts and experienced in this field, people who can preside over this division and organize the construction, employment, research, and conservation of our natural resources. Get rid of all foreign goods. Their products contain chemicals that destroy our cells, shortening our life span. You will need to organize a special task force to stop the buying and selling of our resources from our cities and states. Organize the promotion and protect the welfare of our resources by providing jobs for the production and distribution of our goods. Provide each city with the necessary provisions to meet the demands of their economy. Bring about their advancement by building up their industries. Conduct their methods for producing crops and raising livestock. Keep a list of each city’s natural resources and adjust it to meet the needs of our entire nation, distribute the goods as prescribed to prevent waste. Arrange the ordinances of our King and dismiss foreign customs. Come together to protect each city from war and utilize each of our resources among our cities to build a stronger economy.

BOOK NEWS

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Birmingham Times

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August 22, 2013

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By Esther Callens

Award winning New York Times Bestselling Author has returned with another wonderful novel. James McBride’s latest offering, The Good Lord Bird, offers an adventurous story that takes you on an action packed trek through the Wild West. Thoroughly engrossing while enveloping pure humor, The Good Lord Bird is a highly entertaining, good read.
James McBride has a knack when it comes to writing brilliant tales based upon historical events and people. As with The Good Lord Bird, he is holding true to his calling. With his new narrative, readers are introduced to Henry Shackleford. Henry is a slave living in Kansas during the 1800s. As a young child, Henry is taken by the legendary, Bible spewing, slave abolitionist John Brown when a quarrel occurs at Henry’s master’s place. After emancipating Henry, John perceives Henry to be a girl. He also thinks Henry, aka Henrietta, is his good luck charm and begins to call him “Onion.”
John and his band of misfits go on numerous raids with Onion in tow. It is during this time that Onion learns a lot about survival. However, dissension separates John’s crew and Henry is finally on his own. This proves to be short lived as John reconnects with Onion just in time for the famous 1859 raid on Harper’s Ferry which went down in history as the spark that fired the Civil War.
Laced with historical reference James McBride has once again proven he is the master of storytelling. The authenticity of his characters makes it seems as through the actual novel is being played out right before your very eyes.
The Color Of Water, Miracle At St. Anna and Song Yet Song are James McBride’s award winning titles. Aside from writing, McBride is an accomplished musician as well – having written songs for Anita Baker, Grover Washington, Jr. and others. Currently, McBride is on a 20 city tour and he will be at The Alabama Booksmith on Thursday, August 22nd at 5 p.m.

The Sims Family Reunion

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Birmingham Times

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August 22, 2013

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The Roberts Sims and Queenie Sims Brown families met here in Birmingham the
weekend of the 9th for their Biannual Family Reunion. The elder members of the
family formerly lived in Brookside, Ala.
The reunion was beautifully planned and well carried out by the younger members of the family. There were members attending from several states. A banquet was held on Friday night August 9th at the Gardendale Civic Center. Eura Brown Garrison, the family’s oldest living member, updated the true family history and passed it out at the banquet. The title of
the updated history was, “Families, Like Diamonds, Are Forever.”
On Saturday August 10th, they gathered for the family picnic at Tom Bradford Park.
This was truly a memorable weekend and was enjoyed by all.

A quest to know God

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Birmingham Times

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August 22, 2013

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Have you ever felt something is in control of your life, and nothing goes right, well that is what I mean by delusion, because you have become out of control of your own life, and now you are confused, and your mind has become filled with a mixture of all kinds of messages. Nothing seems to fall in place, and you cannot get a handle of anything. What has taken place is you have allowed yourself to become involve in too much of that which does not build the Spirit Man. You must regroup, and go back to spending more time in prayer and reading, studying, and meditating in the Word of God. Too much involvement in things that do not really matter, does not add anything to the quality time for the Lord. This will drain you from important things, like reading the Word of God daily. Although some things seem to be of the utmost importance, at times, but they are not, when you analyze them. Began to take analysis of daily activities and see where you can eliminate unnecessary activities. Sure, life becomes a clutter sometimes, but you must soon get a handle of things, and start an eliminating process immediately.
Delusion is a presentation of that which is real with the unreal. Many create confusion of the Word of God with untruth. Many are deceived. Beware – much delusion is taking place in the Body of Christ. The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever. The Lord is patient and long suffering. He allows us time to see ourselves, as He tenderly endures, in order for you to turn around, and give your life to Him. What a mighty God we serve. He is better to us than we deserve. Delusion of the Word of God presents ineffectiveness for the Lord.
Stay in tune with the Lord; we are living in perilous times, as the Word of God says in II Timothy 3:1.
www.thealmightyeyes.com

New income guidelines released for WIC

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Birmingham Times

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August 22, 2013

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Alabama families may qualify for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as WIC. If you are a woman who is pregnant, just had a baby within the past six months, breastfeeding or the parent or guardian of a child up to age 5, you are encouraged to apply for WIC at your local county health department.
Under the recently released 2013 federal poverty guidelines, more families may be eligible for the program. WIC is open to participants with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Check the table below to see whether your family qualifies:

Family size Annual Income Weekly Income
1 $21,257 $409
2 $28,694 $552
3 $36,131 $695
4 $43,568 $838
5 $51,005 $981

WIC participants must have both a limited income and a nutritional need. Families who receive Medicaid, SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, or Family Assistance, formerly known as TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) already meet the income qualifications for WIC. Even families who do not qualify for these three programs may be eligible for WIC.
For example, a single mother and her baby can have an income of up to $552 per week (before taxes are deducted) and qualify for WIC. A husband and wife with three children can have a total weekly income of as much as $981 (before taxes) and meet the income requirements to participate in WIC.
WIC is a nutrition program that provides nutrition education and supplemental foods during the early, formative years. Collective findings of studies, reviews and reports by government and nongovernment groups show that the WIC Program is cost effective in protecting and improving the health and nutritional status of women, infants and children.
Carolyn Battle, WIC director, Alabama Department of Public Health, said, “We especially want to reach women during their pregnancies because good prenatal nutrition is important in promoting healthy pregnancies and birth outcomes. Also, we know that WIC can help Alabama families develop healthy eating and activity habits that will last a lifetime.”
For more information contact your local county health department or call the statewide toll-free line at 1-888-942-4673.

Civil Rights Icon Andrew Young to speak at UAB

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Birmingham Times

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August 22, 2013

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Andrew Young, a civil rights legend and former ambassador to the United Nations, will give a lecture at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) on Thursday, Aug. 29. The free, public event will take at 7 p.m. at Bartow Arena, 617 13th St. South.
This lecture is one of several events in the yearlong UAB and City of Birmingham partnership, 50 Years Forward, an ongoing commemoration of the seminal events of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.
As a young, ordained minister, Andrew Young worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to fight for civil and human rights. He was a key strategist and negotiator during the Civil Rights Campaigns in Birmingham and Selma that resulted in the passage Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In 1972, Young was elected to the U.S. Congress, the first African-American from the Deep South since Reconstruction. While in office, he served on the Banking and Urban Affairs and Rules Committees, sponsoring legislation that established a U.S. Institute for Peace, The African Development Bank and the Chattahoochee River National Park, while negotiating federal funds for the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), the Atlanta highway system, as well as a new international airport for Atlanta.
In 1977, he was appointed the nation’s first African-American ambassador to the United Nations. In that role, he negotiated an end to white-minority rule in Namibia and Zimbabwe and brought President Jimmy Carter’s emphasis on human rights to international diplomacy.
Young was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1981 and is credited with attracting 1,100 new businesses and $70 billion in investment, as well as adding one million jobs to the region. He also led the effort to bring the Centennial Olympic Games to Atlanta and was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest award of the Olympic Movement.
Young has received honorary degrees from more than 100 universities and colleges in the U.S. and abroad. He has also been awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and France’s Legion d’Honneur, both are the highest civilian award for their nation.
He founded The Andrew Young Foundation, which documents, preserves and interprets his legacy of servant leadership in ending racism, war and poverty for current and future leaders. Young is the author of three books: “A Way Out of No Way,” “An Easy Burden” and “Walk in My Shoes.”
This event is sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Student & Faculty Success and the Freshman Discussion Committee.

For details on this and other 50 Years Forward events, visit www.uab.edu/50yearsforward/.