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Birmingham School of Law Hosts Law Day Mock Trial at Jefferson County Courthouse

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Birmingham Times
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Students from i3 Academy and Legacy Prep Charter School took part in the Law Day celebration hosted by the Birmingham School of Law. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

The courtroom at the Jefferson County Courthouse took on a different tone Friday as middle school students from i3 Academy and Legacy Prep Charter School stepped into the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and jurors during the Law Day celebration hosted by the Birmingham School of Law (BSOL).

Observed nationally each year on May 1, Law Day highlights the importance of the rule of law and its impact on everyday life. In Birmingham, the annual program brought that concept to life through a hands-on mock trial, giving students from across the area a chance to experience the legal system firsthand.

Under the guidance of law student mentors, participants spent weeks preparing for the live courtroom experience. Practices began in early April, with students balancing rehearsals alongside their regular schoolwork. Their efforts culminated in Friday’s event, during which they presented a scripted case before a presiding judge in a real courtroom.

“This is pretty amazing,” said Desiree Celeste Alexander, who presided over the mock trial. “I really like it when the kids interject themselves into the part. They’re really feeling the script, really understanding it. Our prosecutors, defense counsel, and witnesses all did a great job today.”

The program, organized in part by the Black Law Students Association at Birmingham School of Law, has been a longstanding tradition. Now in its 17th year, the initiative continues to focus on more than just legal education.

Auri Hill from Legacy Prep Charter School and Zion Goree from i3 Academy. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

Friday’s mock trial also marked a milestone for the program itself.

Alexander, a professor at the Birmingham School of Law and the author of the mock trial script, played a central role in shaping the experience. Teaching courses such as contract and environmental law in the school’s weekend program, Alexander also presided over the proceedings in character as a “Chief Justice” in the fictional “Kingdom of Magic City Land.” The mock trial was based on a Wizard of Oz-inspired storyline, allowing students to engage with familiar characters like Dorothy while exploring legal concepts in a creative and accessible way.

“The Birmingham School of Law and the school administration have been supporting the Black Law Students Association in presenting this program since 2009,” Alexander said. “The program that we’re presenting this year is from 2016. It was the first time our program was acknowledged by the American Bar Association, and we received an article mention.”

Exposure and Inspiration

Sheena Reed, President of the Black Law Students Association at Birmingham School of Law, emphasized that the event is designed to provide exposure and inspiration—particularly for students who may not have previously considered careers in law. Following the mock trial, participants had opportunities to network with attorneys, judges, and community leaders, further expanding their understanding of the profession.

Reed said its continued use reflects both its educational value and its lasting impact.

For Reed and others involved, the highlight remains the students’ transformation as they take on their roles.

“They really step into it,” she said. “You can see their confidence build right there in the courtroom.”

Among the student participants was 13-year-old Auri Hill, a sixth grader at Legacy Prep, who took on the role of Dorothy in the trial. While initially nervous about speaking in front of others, she said the experience helped her step outside her comfort zone.

“I was kind of nervous because I don’t like talking in front of people unless I’m comfortable,” Hill said. “But I do think I might want to pursue law. I just find it interesting, and I like to argue a lot.”

Another student, 14-year-old Zion Goree from i3 Academy, served as one of the prosecutors in the case. Though previously more interested in real estate, the experience sparked a new curiosity about the legal field.

“I was more interested in real estate, but this is starting to tip the board a little bit,” Goree said. “One thing I learned is that the courtroom is a lot quieter than I expected. I thought it was going to be louder.”

Beyond the courtroom dynamics, Goree said the storytelling aspect of legal work stood out. “I find the stories kind of interesting,” the student added. “It’s not a situation I’d find myself in, but you get to listen and understand what’s going on and be part of it.”

As the day concluded, students gathered not only to celebrate their performance but also to connect with legal professionals—an experience organizers hope will leave a lasting impression.

Follow the Black Law Students Association at Birmingham School of Law on Instagram @blsa_bsol_chapter.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

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Birmingham Times
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The Pharcyde performs at Iron City on Wednesday. (singersroom.com)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL OF THE MOTHERS…

…FROM ALL OF US!!!!!!

THURSDAY, MAY 7

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION with Gubernatorial Candidate Doug Jones And Pastor Edward E. Rodgers, Sr., 6 p.m. at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church (Hillman Staton 4817 Jefferson Avenue S.W. Call 205-925-2134 for more.

**IRONDALE MAYOR’S PRAYER BREAKFAST, 6:30 a.m. Doors Open and Program starts at 7:45 a.m. at the Church of the Highlands. Hosted by Mayor James D. Stewart with DR. HENRY PANION, III, Grammy Award Winning Composer, Conductor and Educator as Guest Speaker.

**ROSE’ IN THE ROSES, 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens with wine sponsor FINCH FINE WINES while celebrating the Gardens’ roses for this festive fundraiser sponsored by Shoal Creek Properties and Friends Junior Board. Register.

**JAZZ HAPPY HOUR with JOSE CARR AND HIS BAND, 5 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE & MINGLE at Platinum with music by DEVYBE BAND and hosted by Jirus Horton. Line Dance with DESI KEITH & D2 at 6 p.m.

**SING ANYTHING: 80s KARAOKE with TRISTEN KLAVENGA at Saturn.

**YACHT ROCK REVUE – PRIMETIME – by CANN at Avondale Brewing Co.

**ARCHITECTS at Iron City.

**THE LOW LIFE’S at The Nick.

**RnB POETICALLY LIT, 5-7 p.m. at Lit on 8th, 518 Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. with HUNCHO ZAVY, KD MCQWEEN, CAROL HOOD, DKMODE, BRIANNE SHARDAW and hosted by HEMP THE ARTIST. Every Thursday.

**3rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**FILMMAKER NETWORKING NIGHTS, 5 p.m. at 1821 2nd Avenue North

**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.

**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

 

FRIDAY, MAY 8

IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…

**FISH FRY FRIDAY at Lil Mama’s, 1200 Hall Avenue EVERY FRIDAY, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. and music with Chef Dwayne “BIG DADDY” Thompson.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: COMEDIAN BILL BELLAMY at the StarDome Comedy

**HOUSE OF HEAVY at Saturn.

**SUNDROP + FRIENDS at The Nick.

**THE LACS & GIOVANNIE AND THE HIRED GUNS at Iron City.

**FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, 5 p.m. at Howard’s Unlimited Lounge & Cocktail Bar at 4010 Avenue I with food by 1918 Catering Food Truck. Happy Hour at 5 p.m. Call 205-213-9097 for more.

**GOOD MUSIC WITH GOOD PEOPLE BREWING at Dave’s, 6 p.m. at Dave’s Pub.

 

SATURDAY, MAY 9

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: COMEDIAN BILL BELLAMY at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**BLACK MARBLE with SERIOUSLY C. SONNER at Saturn.

**FURY IN FEW at The Nick.

**MULTI ULTRA at The Nick.

**THE STEPPERS with FURY IN FEW at the Nick.

**TOADIES – THE DINNER TOUR at Iron City.

**LORNA SHORE at Avondale.

**ALABAMA BALLET is hosting UNBOUND: SERENADE + CARMINA BURANA performed live with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Alabama Symphony Chorus and vocal soloists conducted by Guest Conductor MING LUKE. This collaboration is Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. Call Box Office – 205-322-4300. For more.

 

SUNDAY, MAY 10

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

**HOWARD’S UNLIMITED LOUNGE & COCKTAIL BAR, 4010 Avenue I, in Belview Heights with our own favorite son radio personality D.J. CHRIS COLEMAN. Check it out for Sunday Brunch with food by 1918 Catering, music and more!! For more, call 205-213-9097. 1918 Catering is the best food for lunch, dinner or your special event. (Take my word.)

**JOSE CARR performing at JAZZ IN THE GARDEN SUNDAYS, Every 1st and 3rd Sunday, 5-8 p.m. at Denim on 7th, 2808 7th Avenue Suite105.

**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**2ND SUNDAY FREE SHOW with ZACH AUSTIN at The Nick.

**4th SUNDAY FREE SHOW with our favorite TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick.

**MOTION SUNDAYS at Platinum, 8 p.m. – 1 a.m. with DJ CUZZO X DJ A1 Controlling the Vibes.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: COMEDIAN BILL BELLAMY at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**STEADY ROTATION with OXMOOR at The Nick.

 

MONDAY, MAY 11

**WEEK DAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**MONDAYS – THURSDAYS – CFJS CARES RESPITE PROGRAM, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**MONDAYS – GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP, 10-11:30 a.m. at CJFS Conference Room. Open to survivors who have experienced loss within the past 2 years. Call 205-278-7101 to sign up.

**MONDAYS – ENVISION RADIO, 1 p.m. ‘Where Praise Meets Talk’ with a Special Guest each Monday. For more: www.envision-radio.com.

**MONDAYS – DEMENTIA CAREGIVER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP, 3 p.m. and/or

Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick with Special Guest IV.

 

TUESDAY, May 12

**WILDFLOWER WALKABOUT, 11 a.m. – Noon at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens with environmental educator and habitat gardener MICHELLE REYNOLDS. Dress for the weather. Register.

**TACO TUESDAY R & B NIGHT, EVERY TUESDAY at Hemings on 2ND Avenue.

**PODCASTING 101 at CREED63, EVERY TUESDAY at 5:45 p.m. Learn how to launch and create your own podcast at 1601 5th Avenue North, Birmingham 35203.

**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.

**SONGWRITER’S NIGHT EVERY 2ND TUESDAY at The Nick.

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**MAC SATURN w/TYLER NICHOLS at the Upstairs at Avondale.

**STERLING ELZA & COLE BARNHILL with JAZXON MALONE at Saturn.

**Late Night with FUAKATA + ANALOG DAYDREAM Tuesday at The Nick.

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**OPEN MIC NIGHT at StarDome Comedy Club.

**ARTS FISHING CLUB with CERTAINLY SO at Saturn.

(Photo: The Pharcyde performs at Iron City on Wednesday) (Photo Credit: singersroom.com)

**THE PHARCYDE performs at Iron City. Pharcyde is an American alternative hip-hop group formed in 1989 in South Central Los Angeles, known for their innovative blend of jazz rap, soul sounds and humorous storytelling

**SPECIAL EVENT: QUEEN AND KING OF REALITY SHOW, NENE LEAKES AND CARLOS KING LIVE at StarDome Comedy Club.

 

NEXT THURSDAY, MAY 14

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE A.G. GASTON BOYS & GIRLS CLUB, at the Renaissance Ross Bridge featuring a “CONVERSATION WITH JALEN”. Jalen Hurts is an Alabama Icon and quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles.

**ALABAMA STATE BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Monthly Meeting, Noon at

**SPECIAL EVENT: COMEDIAN DUSTIN NICKERSON at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**JAZZ HAPPY HOUR with JOSE CARR AND HIS BAND, 5 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE & MINGLE at Platinum with music by DEVYBE BAND and hosted by Jirus Horton. Line Dance with DESI KEITH & D2 at 6 p.m.

**SCANTRON 5000 TRIVIA FREE at Saturn.

**ELMIENE at Saturn.

**ELMIENE – SOUNDS FOR SOMEONE TOUR at Iron City.

 

NEXT FRIDAY, MAY 15

**FISH FRY FRIDAY at Lil Mama’s, 1200 Hall Avenue EVERY FRIDAY, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. and music with Chef Dwayne “BIG DADDY” Thompson.

**THE BIG MEETING – A Great Gathering of the Jefferson County Community. It will feature the Powerful Stage Drama – THE MEETING. This event will honor 35 of Jefferson County’s most influential residents, 4:30 p.m. at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Pratt City, located at 1701 Spencer Avenue.  Panel discussions will include: family health, financial literacy, youth empowerment, crime prevention, drug intervention, arts and education inspiration.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: COMEDIAN RON FUNCHES at the StarDome Comedy  Club.

**The Broadway Room at Stardome: LANCE WOODS at StarDome Comedy Club.

**BERTHA: GRATEFUL DRAG at Saturn.

**SID-JERR DAN & THE SNAKE MOUNTAIN BOYS at The Nick.

**TALK 99.5 with JAW BONE JAM: BROTHER CANE w/ STONE HORSES AND CADD at Iron City.

**EAT A PEACH – AN ALLMAN BROTHERS TRIBUTE at Avondale Brewing CO.

 

NEWS TO KNOW AND USE 

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!!!

**CELEBRATING MENTAL HEALTH MAY – CHILDREN’S OF AL has been a leader in child and adolescent mental health treatment, education and research. The disciplinary team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, nurse practitioners, nurses and expert support staff. The Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC) is just one of the resources Children’s offers. The free, confidential service links adult callers and community providers to the most appropriate mental health resources for children and teenagers. The therapists who work at the PIRC are licensed mental health professionals who can quickly assess what’s going on and point an adult caller in the right direction.

**VIVID REFLECTION ‘MAY SOIREE’ – Celebrate A Resilient Community Through Cultural Artifacts, an exhibition hosted by Ballard House Project through June 13. This coming (May 14) Thursday, 5-7 p.m. stop by the Vivid Reflection” May Soiree with music, food and community memories to help celebrate at.1420 7th Avenue North, downtown. FREE.

**IRONDALE CELEBRATING JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, 6 p.m. at Irondale City Hall with Film Screening of “Rosenwald: The Remarkable Story of Jewish Partnerships with African American Communities, at Irondale Public Library.

 

FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS

**SATURDAY BICYCLE RIDE, at 9:45 a.m. with Southeastern Outings Bicycle Ride at Horse Creek Trail, Dora and Sumiton, AL – DETAILS: This is an easy, approximately 7-mile bicycle ride on the Horse Creek Trail in Dora and Sumiton, in Walker County, sort of near Jasper, Alabama.  The trail itself is about 3.2 miles long one way.  You will be bicycling one round trip on one of Alabama’s rails-to-trails conversion routes on an old railroad right of way.  This smooth trail is wide, level and even paved. No hills on this trail, is scenic trail which goes through fields, near houses and through the woods.  The trail is developed, with frequent covered benches. Bring your bicycle water with you. After the bicycle ride there is an optional opportunity to bike a second 7-mile round trip on the trail for those who would like to bicycle more. Meet 9:45 a.m. just outside the left front door of the Wal-Mart in Sumiton, Alabama.  Depart by car from there at 10 a.m. and drive to the nearby start point of our ride on the trail. Info and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, email southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205/631-4680.

**WEDNESDAY WALK, at 9:45 a.m. with Southeastern Outings Leisurely Weekday Cahaba Lily Walk at Hargrove Shoals, Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge, along the Cahaba River in Bibb County – DETAILS: See the largest display of blooming Cahaba lilies in the world, acres and acres spread out over the water in the river.  These lilies are a sight to behold!  In places, it often looks like it has snowed on the river in May.  There are over seven miles of the Cahaba River within the Refuge boundary. The rolling uplands surrounding the river are forested with mountain longleaf and loblolly pines. Mixed upland hardwood species line ravines and the river’s edge. The hike is about five miles round trip, moderately easy with stops often to catch breath and see various trees, birdsongs, the trail and woods and lilies around us.  Wear sturdy footwear such as old sneakers or river shoes that you can walk out into the shallow parts of the river to stroll through and touch the lilies, which grow only in the water.  Wear your river wading shoes to wade through Caffee Creek in order to be able to walk to where you can view the largest stand of lilies at Hargrove Shoals.  Bare feet, flip-flops, slip-ons and thin-soled “beach shoes” are not acceptable!! You may wear your sturdy river shoes for the entire trip if you wish.  Bring picnic lunch and your drink.  Two hiking poles are strongly recommended to provide substantial, additional stability when wading in the river. Meet at 9:45 a.m. at the McDonald’s Galleria.  Depart at 10 a.m. Info. and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or email southeasternoutings@gmail.com

 

IN BIRMINGHAM AND AROUND TOWN

**WEDNESDAY – GIRL SCOUTS COMMUNITY BOUQUET GIVEAWAY at East Ensley Library, 3:30 -5 p.m. Girl Scouts Troop 27019 will design and assemble more than 150 handcrafted flower bouquets to give to neighbors, library visitors and community supporters. This helps the girls understand how simple acts of kindness can brighten an entire community as it reflects the focus on leadership, creativity and service. The girls will practice floral design, teamwork and community engagement. FREE and Open to the public.

 

AT THE BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE

***COURAGE UNDER FIRE’ EXHIBITION through May 16 in the Woolfolk Gallery at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. It will feature images that documented the violence perpetuated against the Freedom Riders. The black and white photographs allow visitors to reflect on the roles of violence, law, enforcement and press during the Freedom Rides. This is the 65th Anniversary of the Anniston Bus Bombing.

 

IN THE CITY OF IRONDALE

**IRONDALE CELEBRATING JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, 6 p.m. at Irondale City Hall with Film Screening of “Rosenwald: The Remarkable Story of Jewish Partnerships with African American Communities” at Irondale Public Library.

**MAY 23 – AUGUST 1 – FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET, Every Saturday, 8 – 11 a.m., at the Irondale City Hall, 101 20th Street South. Seeking Vendors NOW. Any Questions: contact etolbert@cityofiriondaleal.gov or madelynjayne02@gmail.com

 

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

Opinion: In the Fight for Voting Rights, Winning is Not the Same as Victory

By
Birmingham Times
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Attendees at a rally prior to oral arguments in Merrill v. Milligan, now known as Allen v. Milligan. (Allison Shelley, LDF)

By Evan Milligan | Special to the Birmingham Times

Since 2021, a case bearing my family name has been winding through our federal court system.

Allen v. Milligan asked whether Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act could still be used to challenge racial bias in how voting districts get drawn. I joined this lawsuit expecting to lose. Yet, my co-plaintiffs and I are undefeated. Five times the courts have reviewed our case — a federal panel and the U.S. Supreme Court — and five times we have won.

Evan Milligan

Last week, the Supreme Court ruled in Louisiana v. Callais. Just a few summer months before our country’s 250th birthday, the Voting Rights Act lost, badly. Justice Kagan, in dissent, wrote that the ruling renders Section 2 “all but a dead letter.”

The 1965 Voting Rights Act was already a shadow of the bill President Johnson signed into law.

In 2013, the Supreme Court dismantled preclearance, the VRA’s most powerful tool for preventing racial discrimination before it happened. What was left was Section 2 — a way for ordinary Americans like us to challenge discriminatory voting systems after the fact. Callais has all but closed that window too. What remains is a path the size of a needle’s eye.

And then there is our peculiar case.

Each Milligan plaintiff took a different path into the litigation. Mine was grief and the appeal of storytelling on a grander stage. So many close loved ones and local leaders had died during the pandemic that litigation felt like a way to keep their stories in the historical record. A likely doomed attempt felt cathartic.

In February 2022, three federal judges — two appointed by President Trump, one by President Reagan — unanimously held that Alabama had violated federal law, ordering them to redraw our congressional map to feature two majority African American voting districts or something close to it.

The state refused to comply. It spent millions in tax dollars appealing all the way to the Supreme Court.

In June 2023, the Supreme Court agreed with us too. The state still refused to comply.

That summer, during a special session, the Alabama legislature passed a map that diluted Black voting strength even more than the one we’d originally challenged. The governor signed it. The state kept paying private attorneys to defend its right to ignore a direct order from the Supreme Court of the United States.

The hardest moment to describe came in August 2023, on the top floor of the Hugo Black Federal Judicial building. Three federal judges asked Solicitor General Edmond LaCour to account for the state’s defiance. LaCour told them his team was confident the Court would revise its reasoning if allowed to review the case again.

This was a Tyler Perry Studios-level moment.

The air inside the courtroom went still.

The Alabama Solicitor General was telling federal judges, in open court, that his state would simply keep appealing until the Court’s reasoning changed. Instead, the judges appointed a special map master who helped all parties negotiate a redesign of Alabama Congressional District 2, which was ultimately won by Representative Shomari Figures.

We are undefeated. We have brilliant attorneys who embody American idealism about little guys taking on would-be kings and winning. We have inspiring colleagues throughout our state and families willing to make sacrifices. We complied with every court order. With every odd against us, we have prevailed. My personal savings are in the red, my dog is dead, my high school has closed, my college has closed, but my neighbors cheer me on.

Our Attorney General defied court orders while defending the Alabama Department of Corrections’ right to kill people on Death Row, even when victims’ families begged for mercy.

Attorney General Steve Marshall is now running for the U.S. Senate. Former Solicitor General Edmond LaCour is now a federal judge, appointed by President Trump to a lifetime position on the very Northern District of Alabama Court where I watched him say that the state was above obeying.

Our beloved Voting Rights Act lies in ashes. So what is our reward?

Another special session. More litigation. More public money spent so that elected officials can dilute the votes of the people who pay their salaries. I am writing this while taking a break from a systems art piece that tells the story of an interstate occupation and a dragon bound under the Alabama capitol by our 1901 constitution.

Visions of Victory

I learned that the people we buried during the pandemic and the movement years many decades earlier — the neighbors, the elders, the leaders — deserve something more than my expectation of loss. They deserve something more durable than a court ruling.

Those ancestors deserve the very conviction that Alabama’s officials summon when refusing to obey laws they don’t like while simultaneously punishing the rest of us for disobeying their laws.

They deserve the non-negotiable conviction displayed by the characters in my story who refuse to leave their interstate village except by stretcher or body bag.

We can conjure that level of conviction. And as we do, we can invest it in local acts that we continue until we achieve something far closer to permanent protection of American voting rights. This conjuring first requires visioning. In our own words and sounds, what would it look like to pass state voting rights acts in former Confederate states?

We can gather in small circles with people we trust and dream until we can taste the society where federal agents and military service members have maximum incentives to avoid committing war crimes. We can write songs to inspire the movement building effort that will be required to secure passage of federal bills such as the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the even longer-term movement needed to amend our federal constitution to recognize the right of American citizens of voting age to vote and have their vote counted. We can vote and volunteer consistently, even if our main reason for doing so is to help someone other than ourselves.

Test your assumptions. Trust what you learn. Focus less on the numbers. Take our experience as a cautionary tale. We are undefeated, and here we are, all the same. Focus instead on the loved ones you’ve lost because there was no one there to catch them when they fell. In this 250th year of the American Revolution, focus on the stories of little people who stood up to mad kings. Regardless of outcome, your willingness to stand is itself a victory.

Evan Milligan is co-director of The Sanctuary at the Jubilee Community Center in Montgomery. He is the named plaintiff in the Allen v. Milligan (2023) U.S. Supreme Court case that forced Alabama to add a second majority-Black district to its congressional map. A past fellow at the Equal Justice Initiative, Milligan was founding Executive Director of the civic organization Alabama Forward.

May 7, 2026

By
Birmingham Times
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By multiple measures, the Birmingham area has seen dramatic declines in unemployment since the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)
Continue

Birmingham Public Library’s Beyond the Bell Program Drives Student Success and Stronger Families  

By
Birmingham Times
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Birmingham Public Library is launching Beyond the Bell, a campaign designed to enhance after-school learning. (Adobe Stock)  

Special to The Times

Birmingham Public Library is launching Beyond the Bell, a campaign designed to enhance after-school learning through technology, academic  support and enrichment opportunities. 

The campaign begins Monday, May 11, and builds on the library’s Beyond the Bell program, an out-of-school-time initiative serving elementary and middle school students daily during the 2026–27 school year.  Beyond the Bell will  operate from August 2026 through June 2027 and is expected to serve 150 students daily throughout the school year. 

Beyond the Bell  resides  at the downtown library, 2100 Park Place, and is designed to extend learning beyond the traditional school day by providing a safe,  structured and supportive environment. The program focuses on academic enrichment, social-emotional development, and mentorship.  Participants in the program are primarily students from  local Birmingham City Schools.  

In addition to supporting students, the program provides critical benefits to families, including reliable after-school  activities  and a safe, supervised environment during peak afternoon hours. Students who attend  Beyond the Bell will receive homework  assistance  and opportunities to build social and emotional skills.  

Funding from individuals,  foundations,  and businesses will support expanding programs and learning  initiatives, as the library aims to continue to be  a safe haven  for students.

Library officials said the initiative also helps reduce  after-school  childcare costs for working families while contributing to long-term community benefits, including  supporting the Birmingham Public Library’s mission to provide  the highest quality experience to the community for lifelong learning, cultural  enrichment  and enjoyment. 

For more information about  ways to support  Beyond the Bell or to support the  Friends Foundation, which supports library programs, visit the  Friends Foundation Giving Website.

James Parker Jr.: Working to Make a Statement Through Both Style and Service

By
Birmingham Times
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James Parker Jr. is the creative visionary behind Parker Craft Collective. Parker’s new business offers unique and stylish socks but aims to be much more. (Provided)

By Ameera Steward | For the Birmingham Times

When it comes to fashion, even something as simple as a pair of socks can make a statement.

James Parker Jr. should know. He’s the creative visionary behind Parker Craft Collective. Parker’s new business offers unique and stylish socks but aims to be much more.

Parker, 35, describes Parker Craft Collective as a “Birmingham-based creative business dedicated to using design, storytelling, and community-driven initiatives to make meaningful local impact.”

And he believes it’s his duty to invest in dignity, compassion, and community restoration with his new business.

Faith, Service, & Community

Parker grew up in Attalla, Alabama, with his parents Jeneen and Marcus Stewert, both ordained ministers at Ekklesia Ministries in Sheffield, Alabama.

“I was raised in an environment where faith, service and community were emphasized, which instilled a strong sense of purpose [in me] early on,” Parker said. “Being actively involved in church and community spaces taught me the value of leadership, creativity, and [the art of] using my gifts to impact others.”

His father, James Parker Sr., is also an ordained minister in Greer, South Carolina.

Parker added that his family’s strong involvement in church and community guided him into roles where he could combine purpose and execution through creative direction, storytelling, and team leadership.

“I learned how to serve people while also building systems, creating engaging experiences, and bringing vision to life,” Parker said. “Today, that foundation continues to drive me [by influencing] how I lead, how I create, and how I approach every opportunity with intention, excellence, and a desire to make a meaningful impact.”

He attended Etowah High School, where his love for socks as a statement piece began.

“I wanted to be bold and express myself, but not too bold, and I felt like socks were a good way to express my personality,” he said. “So I just started wearing bold socks… [doing so] makes me feel confident, expressive, and set apart. It’s a small detail, but it shifts my mindset.”

Parker added that wearing bold socks helps him feel intentional about how he shows up because for him, “it’s not just style, it’s a statement that I refuse to blend in or dress ordinary.”

He graduated in 2008 and went on to Jacksonville State University to study business administration. However, he decided to leave in 2011 because he was unfocused and unsure about what he wanted to do with his life.

Parker moved to Birmingham in 2022 after being hired at Wells Fargo. Now, he works for Birmingham Promise, where he enjoys making an impact within Birmingham City Schools, and through Parker Craft Collective.

Inspired by his parents’ journeys and a desire to grow in his faith, Parker decided to attend Adullam Bible College in 2025.

“I wanted a deeper understanding of scripture, clarity in my purpose, and the ability to lead and serve others more effectively,” said Parker. “It was a step of commitment to develop both spiritually and practically so I could make a meaningful impact.”

He will also be attending Talladega College to earn his degree in business administration. He plans to graduate in 2027.

James Parker Jr. moved to Birmingham in 2022 and works for Birmingham Promise. (Provided)

Designed to Stand Out

Parker said that for years, he’d been thinking of starting a business creating socks with a bit of personality.

“I always wanted a sock business,” Parker said. “I’ve always been interested in Happy Socks [a Swedish manufacturer, designer and retailer of socks and other apparel], very bold, loud socks — that’s my way of expressing myself…But I guess because I had other things going on, I just put it in the back of my head.”

But then, Parker started making vision boards with everything he wanted out of life, and “I just woke up one day and said I’m going to start doing these things that are on my vision board.”

He came up with and trademarked the name Parker Craft Collective, created a logo, and established a limited liability corporation (LLC).

“I did everything from scratch,” he said. And Parker Craft Collective was born.

He’s started with socks, but as the business grows, Parker wants to add other garments to his collection and “make an impact on the community.”

Parker Craft Collective currently sells colorful and specially designed socks for $15.15 that take its customers to the next level, and with that, Parker has started the initiative “buy one, give one.” Through this initiative, each product sold helps provide essential items to individuals experiencing homelessness in Birmingham.

Built to Give Back

Through his “buy one, give one” initiative each pair of socks sold provides a pair of socks to an unhoused person.

Parker said that when he started Parker Craft Collective, it was never just about making money.

“That was never the absolute intent of the business,” he said. “I really want to make an impact in my community.”

He added that one of his best friends asked him, “‘You know a lot of people, but what can they attach your name to?’” He then told Parker, ‘You want to do something that you can attach your name to, what people would know you by.’

“That’s what inspired me to go ahead and [start] the business,” said Parker. “But…I [also] want to be a blessing to somebody, and I feel like [the ‘buy one, give one’ initiative] was the best way [to] do it.”

Since Parker Craft Collective is in its early stages, Parker is currently seeking partnerships to help him find individuals who can receive the donations.

“There are people that need help,” he added. “[This is] my way of giving back…giving [unhoused people] assurance that people do care.”

Parker said, “Not only am I helping people express themselves through fashion, I’m also trying to help my community by giving back to the homeless as well. [Parker Craft Collective] is a business giving back to the community…making a huge impact in the city of Birmingham.”

He’s made such an impact that Parker recently won the Network Navigator Rising Star Small Business Award.

“I’m grateful and humbled to have received such a prestigious award,” he said. “I was shocked because I honestly wasn’t expecting to win, being that the other two businesses have been in business longer than I have and are very successful.”

Parker Craft Collective doesn’t design ordinary socks, and because of its focus on community impact, it’s also not your ordinary business.

Learn more at parkercraftcollective.com.

“I Opened the Door, and I Was Like, ‘What? Did You Just Ask Me to Marry You’”

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Birmingham Times
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By Mia Watkins | For the Birmingham Times 

Anthony & Salena Cook

Live: Pell City

Married: December 31, 1994

Met: The Cooks met after a wave and a glance, walking to and from math class. Both were students at Auburn University and had classes in the same building, explained Salena Cook.

“We were passing each other on the concourse, and I was with my roommate,” she said. “He waved to us, and we waved back. We walked a few yards ahead, and I stopped. My roommate was like, ‘What are you stopping for?’ I said, ‘I just met my husband.’”

Salena soon found herself in need of a job on campus.

“When I got my job, my manager told me to come back that night, and the student manager would be there to help show me what to do,” she said. “When I got there that night, [Anthony] was the student manager.”

Anthony only remembers the second meeting, but that would kick off a friendship that led to forever.

“The way I remember it is meeting her that night at work,” he said. “We were actually friends before we started dating. That’s where we became friends, when we were working together.”

He said their friendship grew into something more.

“Part of what attracted me to her is that she had wife vibes, even before we started dating,” he said. “What I mean by that is, we would hang out at her apartment a lot of the time. When I say we, I mean the whole work crew. She would cook, and it was like home cooking. She was always cleaning and very maternal in her demeanor. That was something that was appealing to me. I remember telling one of our friends, ‘If I ever get married, that’s who I’m going to marry.’”

Salena maintains that she knew from the beginning, but she said it took a while for the two friends to grow into a couple.

“Us spending all this time together as a friend group, we just kind of got to a point where it evolved into more,” she said. “I knew in the beginning, for me anyway, I was just waiting on him to turn the switch on. When is he going to make his move? When is he going to recognize that I’m feeling it over here?”

First date: “One of the first dates I remember is that we went to the movies,” Anthony said. “We went to see ‘Jurassic Park.’ We were watching, and she said she was scared, and I turned to her and said, ‘I’m scared, too.’”

Because the two were broke college students, most of their dates involved hanging out with their friend group or doing things around campus.

“We were like in the two-dollar club,” Anthony remembers with a laugh.

“We worked in the cafeteria, and that’s how we fed each other,” Salena added.

The turn: Anthony said he knew Salena was going to be his wife after that conversation with his friend, but he was also moving into the next phase of his life.

“It was just this understanding that I was coming to a place where I was getting serious about next moves,” he said. “I was getting ready to graduate, I was breezing through my junior year and becoming a senior. I was thinking about next steps, and I think that’s when proposing became something that was a real thing for me.”

Salena was also thinking about what the rest of her life was going to look like, especially after Anthony’s undergraduate internship put them almost two hours away from each other.

“I never really got to the point where I was 100-percent sure that this was going to be what I was going to be doing until he had left school to go do his internship at The Anniston Star,” she said. “I was in Auburn, and he was in Anniston, and that was when I was like, I don’t like being away from him. I felt like he was going to have to be a part of my life in order for me to feel whole. That’s when I started thinking that I really hope this works out because if it doesn’t, I’m going to be heartbroken.”

Anthony and Salena Cook met as students at Auburn University. The couple married in 1994. (Provided)

The proposal: Anthony said that hindsight is 20/20 when it comes to him popping the question.

“It was a lesson for me,” he said. “We actually do marriage counseling together now, and this is one of the things I use as a lesson. I did not put any effort into it.”

Anthony said the two were in Salena’s apartment, hanging out and eating food.

“We would get Subway sandwiches or pizza, and we would hang out and listen to Otis Redding. Oh, and hot chocolate, she makes the best hot chocolate,” he recalled. “I just kind of was like, ‘So, you gonna marry me or what?’

Anthony said he wishes he’d put more thought into it.

“That’s one of my greatest regrets, that I did not make a big deal of the proposal,” he said. “I told my son when he was getting ready to get married, and we went with him to purchase the ring, ‘Man, make it a big deal. You’re only going to propose once in your whole life.’ I told him that was the one regret I have. He did. He made it special. I’m proud that he did it.”

Salena was taken by surprise.

“I didn’t know if he was serious,” she said. “I was actually behind a closed door when he said it. I opened the door, and I was like, ‘What? Did you just ask me to marry you’ He said, ‘Yeah. What are we going to do?’”

The wedding: The wedding was a family affair at Salena’s home church, Rocky Elvy Baptist Church, near Troy, Alabama. The colors were black and red.

“She had nieces and nephews who were a part of the wedding,” he said. “My brother was my best man.”

Salena remembers her father’s reaction to the nuptials.

“I am one of seven girls that my dad and my mom had, so I was really, really close with my dad,” she said. “My dad, he was so funny, as we were getting to walk into the church, he kept saying Old Buddy, which is what he called me. ‘Old Buddy, are you sure? Now, we can go home if you want to.’ I said, ‘No, Daddy, I’m fine.” My dad had walked five or four other girls down the aisle before me. Once the services were over, and we were getting ready to walk out of the church, my dad stood up and gave me a hug. At that moment, I was thinking, ‘Let me go back to my husband.’ My dad had me in a bear hug, and he won’t let me go.”

Anthony also remembers learning something from that display of fatherly affection.

“It was just a moment,” he said. “It speaks to how close they were and what it meant to him to see her getting married. It also spoke to me about how important the role was that I was stepping into.”

Anthony’s clearest memory of the day is before the ceremony, which also informs the marriage counseling sessions he does with couples as a pastor.

“I was back in the pastor’s office with him,” he said. “The only real discussion he had with me was whether I was nervous or not. No real instructions about what I was going into. That’s something I’ve carried with me into our marriage counseling sessions we do now. I try to emphasize the value and importance of premarital counseling because it makes a difference to know what you’re getting yourself into.”

The honeymoon: The two went to New Orleans with Anthony’s aunt and her husband.

“We were in New Orleans, but again, we were mostly broke,” he laughed. “So, we mostly were walking around looking at all the stuff we wanted to do.”

The couple recreated the trip for their 30th wedding anniversary.

Words of wisdom: Anthony said there is no such thing as a perfect marriage. His own was transformed by his faith.

“It wasn’t until I came to Christ and started to understand what God says about marriage and what my role is as a husband, that revolutionized our marriage,” he said. “I started to learn what it meant to be a husband, and seeing the change in me made her a better wife. I’m thankful for the change that God has made in our marriage. Get to know Christ and find someone who knows Christ. Make Him a part of your marriage, and that will make all the difference in the world.”

Salena echoes his advice. She also tells wives to leave room for grace in the relationship.

“Leave room for mistakes, and leave room for forgiveness,” she said. “Both things are going to have to happen. We are both going to make mistakes. When I make mine, I need him to be ready to forgive. When he makes his, I need to have room for forgiveness as well.”

Happily ever after: Both of the Cooks work at Alabama Power. They are also parents to two adult sons and an adult daughter. They have three grandchildren and one on the way. Tragically, they lost a grandson a couple of years ago. Anthony pastors at Christian Fellowship Bible Church in Anniston.

“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 editor@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

Sen. Cory Booker Brings Urgency, Reflection to Birmingham Town Hall on Voting Rights and the Future

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Birmingham Times
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A town hall on voting rights featuring U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and drew a multigenerational crowd to Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham on May 4. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

A town hall on voting rights featuring U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Terri Sewell drew a multigenerational crowd to Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham on May 4, coming just days after a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision impacting voting access.

The case, Louisiana v. Callais, centers on a challenge to the state’s congressional redistricting map and whether it complies with the Voting Rights Act. The case has intensified concerns about fair representation and the potential dilution of Black voting power across the South.

For 14-year-old Amari Sears, the message of the night was simple: show up and speak out.

“We watched the news. We see what the Supreme Court did with voting and how it’s affecting Black people,” said Sears, who traveled from Childersburg with her mother and 15-year-old Brylee Brown to attend the town hall. “Coming to events like this, it’s empowering. It’s inspiring us to take a stand and make our voices heard.”

Though she’s still years away from casting a ballot, Sears said the event pushed her to think about how she can engage now — by sharing information with friends and encouraging them to pay attention.

“Maybe just sharing things on Snapchat or Instagram… just letting [people] know things that we see and that we hear,” she said.

That sense of early awareness — and urgency — set the tone for a town hall that felt less like a political event and more like a call to action.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin speaks at the Blueprint Alabama Town Hall. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

A Crowd Motivated by More Than Politics

The gathering held at Boutwell Auditorium featured Terri Sewell, Cory Booker, former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, who drew attendees across generations — many motivated by recent developments affecting voting rights.

For Sears’ mother, Sharonica Sears, bringing her daughter was intentional.

“It’s very important because I want her to understand how serious what’s going on is,” she said. “I don’t want my kids to grow up in a world that’s not for them.”

She contrasted the gravity of the moment with what she sees as distractions facing young people.

“A lot of times the young kids are just busy with really nothing. In their cell phones. Especially on Tik Tok. Learning to dance, or talking about food, or watching people eat and live.  I think that’s silly when you’re really about to lose your rights,” she said.

From the stage, Woodfin opened with a reminder rooted in Birmingham’s civil rights legacy.

“We come from a legacy of people who were willing to fight for what was right,” he said, urging attendees to move beyond passive engagement. “We’ve got a fight on our hands.”

Jones followed by tying the present moment to Alabama’s past, warning that the state has seen similar challenges before.

“We have seen this playbook in Alabama before,” he said. “And we don’t like it.”

Rep. Terri Sewell emphasized the need for continued vigilance and participation. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Sewell Sets the Stakes

Sewell grounded the conversation in the implications of the recent legal decisions impacting voting rights, calling them a serious threat to representation.

“We’re not going to sit idly by,” she said, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and participation.

Her framing resonated with attendees like Michelle Harris, a Birmingham native who said the stakes were exactly why she showed up.

“I think it’s important that we understand what just occurred with the Supreme Court,” Harris said. “If we don’t get out and learn what the implications are, then we’re subject to repeating damaging things that have occurred throughout the United States.”

Standing beside her, Sondra Hill echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of firsthand information.

“I believe in getting information for myself and not hearing it from someone else,” Hill said. “So that I can get the information that I need and ask the questions that I need to ask.”

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker drew a multigenerational crowd to Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Booker’s Presence Defines the Night

While each speaker brought a distinct perspective, it was Booker who commanded the room.

Charismatic and deeply engaging, Booker moved fluidly between humor, history, and hard truths. He connected Alabama’s civil rights legacy to present-day challenges, frequently invoking the work of John Lewis and other figures tied to the state’s history.

“The Supreme Court has never led history in this country,” Booker said. “It has always been the foot soldiers of democracy.”

But what set Booker apart was not just his energy — it was his willingness to admit failure.

Booker acknowledged that both he and his party have fallen short at times, pointing to missed opportunities and a lack of urgency in addressing key issues. He criticized Democrats for not investing enough in states like Alabama and for failing to consistently deliver results that people can feel in their lives. Reflecting, personally, Booker admitted, “I failed,” recalling moments when constituents challenged whether he and others were fighting hard enough. He ultimately framed those shortcomings as a call to action, urging both leaders and citizens to do more moving.

That moment of accountability stood out to many in attendance.

“I appreciated the fact that Senator Booker admitted to his mistakes,” Hill said. “And also gave us some things that we should be doing in the future so that we won’t commit those mistakes.”

Harris agreed.

“I appreciate[d] that they were candid about making mistakes,” she said. “Because we should all own up to our own mistakes… and with those mistakes should be a lesson.”

Booker’s message also resonated with Sharonica Sears, who pointed to his remarks about missed opportunities.

“I liked that he was okay to admit that… we missed the mark,” she said. “That part right there — we do not seize the moment. We’ve got to do something.”

That urgency — paired with reflection — became a central theme of the evening.

Booker repeatedly emphasized that progress has always required action from ordinary people, not just elected officials. He tied his own story to civil rights struggles rooted in Alabama, underscoring how past activism continues to shape present opportunities.

“I am here because people made a way out of no way,” he said.

Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones speaks at the town hall. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Calls for Action Beyond the Room

By the end of the night, the focus shifted from discussion to what comes next.

Attendees expressed a desire to see more than just speeches.

“What I would like to see is actually action… more than just rhetoric,” Harris said, calling for stronger engagement at the local level.

Hill pointed to the energy in the room — particularly among younger attendees — as a sign of potential.

“I was surprised that there were so many young people out here,” she said. “I would like to see the young people take action.”

For Sharonica Sears, the path forward starts with continued engagement and visibility.

“If we’re ground zero… then we should be more mobilized,” she said. “I want to see more of us get out there and do something.”

As the event closed, Booker left the audience with a final image: a man standing in a storm, holding a light to guide others.

“The question is, where will you stand?” he asked.

For attendees like Amari Sears, the answer may still be forming — but the direction is clear.

Even without a vote, she’s already thinking about how to influence others, one conversation or post at a time.

And if the goal of the night was to spark that kind of awareness, the message landed.

A crowd gathered at the Blueprint Alabama Town Hall in Boutwell Auditorium. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

City of Birmingham to host Fifth Annual Mental Health Awareness Day on May 8

By
Birmingham Times
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Nurture of Alabama Mental Health Day in partnership with the City of Birmingham and Park and Recreation Board is scheduled Friday. (Cre8teLive Studios, Nurture Alabama)

Compiled From Online Reports

The City of Birmingham and Nurture of Alabama will host the fifth annual “Mental Health Day” on Friday, May 8.

The community event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Linn Park. The event aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and improve access to mental health resources across Birmingham.

Nurture of Alabama founder Crystal Mullen-Johnson said the organization has worked over the years to make a lasting impact.

“Over the past five years, we have remained resilient, consistent, and impactful as we connect our community with resources that promote healing, wellness, and overall well-being,” she said.

Crystal Mullen-Johnson is the founder of Nurture of Alabama. (File)

Why do we need a Community Mental Health Day?

Untreated mental illness is contributing to a national mental health crisis in the United States, affecting both adults and youth. Data from the National Alliance of Mental Illness indicates that one in five individuals experiences mental illness each year.

Mental health challenges among our youth are real,
urgent, and growing and the data makes that clear. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young people in the United States, and Black youth are experiencing some of the most alarming increases.

“Conversations about mental health are often minimized, misunderstood, or even silenced, especially in Black communities. But Mental Health Awareness Day is a chance to change that,’’ said Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “With the help of our partners, we’re breaking stigmas, connecting communities to vital resources, and reminding everyone that your mind matters.’’

According to national data from SAMHSA, between 2018 and 2021, suicide rates
among Black youth ages 10–24 increased by approximately 37%, one of the sharpest rises of any racial or ethnic group.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) youth behavior data further reveal troubling disparities among adolescents. In 2019, Black female high school students reported higher rates of suicide attempts than their White female peers, underscoring the unique pressures and unmet mental health needs facing Black girls and young women today.

These statistics are not just numbers; they represent children, families, classrooms, and communities. Organizers say the event is free and open to the public.

Scheduled Events: Main Stage

  • 10 a.m. Introduction of Nurture Board of Directors
  • 11-11:15 a.m. KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Brandon Folks, Senior Program Manager with Alabama Department of Mental Health, Office of Prevention
  • 11:30-11:45 a.m. Remarks from Birmingham City Councilor Crystal N. Smitherman, District 6
  • Noon to 12:30 p.m. Performance by Logan the Entertainer
  • 12:30-1 p.m. Line dancing with Fitness Instructor Tracy Williams and Tracy’s Sensational Seniors

Scheduled Events: On the Lawn

  • 10:15-10:45 a.m. Yoga on the Lawn, presented by Adi Kaur, Yoga Therapist of Inglenook Yoga Studio
  • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free Depression Screenings by Licensed therapist, Cherie May Edwards, owner of Work In Progress
  • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free Mental Health Consultations with Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Dr. Demechiko French, owner of Mechi Mental Wellness
  • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Glucose and High Blood Pressure Screenings provided by Brownstone Total Family Healthcare
  • 10-11:30 a.m. Chair massages offered by Massage Therapist Adrian Ward, owner of Relaxation Room
  • 10:30-10:45 a.m. Boot Camp Exercises presented by Certified Personal Trainer Cedric Starks, owner of Train and Burn Fitness Studio
  • 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Food Trucks will be serving

Black Artists Featured in Monet to Matisse Exhibition at Birmingham Museum of Art

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Birmingham Times
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Charles Ethan Porter (1847–1923), Still Life with Fruit, oil on canvas; Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Gift of Norman and Carnetta Davis in honor of William C. Hulsey, AFI.10.2014. (Courtesy Of BMA)

By Javacia Harris Bowser | The Birmingham Times

Visitors to the Birmingham Museum of Art’s presentation of the Monet to Matisse exhibition may be surprised to find works by two Black American artists on display in a show focused on French art. But for Dr. Maggie Crosland, BMA Curator of European Art, including works by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859 – 1937) and Charles Ethan Porter (1847-1923) was key.

“Both artists worked in France and were inspired by the art being made in Paris in this moment,” Crosland said. “Because of what was happening politically in the United States from 1850 to 1950, there were many Black American artists living in France. These artists were part of arts communities and helped shape the aesthetics of the era.”

Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, 1850–1950, features over 100 masterworks by iconic artists such as Paul Cézanne, Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and many others. Though Monet to Matisse is a traveling exhibit curated by the Brooklyn Museum, the BMA exhibition is one-of-a-kind as it also includes over 40 works from the museum’s collection to offer a broader exploration of this transformative period in art history. The pieces by Tanner and Porter are two examples.

“It was important to showcase the BMA’s exceptional collection because it is our 75th anniversary,” Crosland said. “Both of these paintings were gifts to the BMA collection — Tanner in 1971, and Porter in 2014.”

Tanner and Porter

Henry Ossawa Tanner

Henry Ossawa Tanner was born in Pittsburgh in 1859, the first of five children, to Reverend Benjamin Tucker Tanner, a future bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Sarah Tanner, who had escaped her enslavers via the Underground Railroad. The family settled in Philadelphia in 1868, and in 1879 Tanner enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Eventually, Tanner relocated to Paris but maintained close ties to the United States and remained concerned about the African American struggle for equality.

His piece “Moroccan Scene,” featured in the BMA exhibition Monet to Matisse, demonstrates Tanner’s fascination with the effects of light on the city’s architecture.

Charles Ethan Porter

Charles Ethan Porter was a contemporary of renowned sculptor Edmonia Lewis, but he is often excluded from art history because he focused on painting still life at a time when this genre of painting was looked down upon.

After taking drawing lessons as a child and studying painting in high school, Porter was accepted to the National Academy of Design in 1869 and is believed to be the first Black student to attend this premier art school. Porter once wrote to his friend, author Mark Twain, that he wanted to show the world that African Americans were “capable the same as other men.”

Porter also challenged the notion that still life painting was boring or static, incorporating styles such as Impressionism throughout his practice. The rich colors and meticulous attention to detail in “Still Life with Fruit,” the painting featured in the BMA Monet to Matisse exhibit, show that Porter was a specialist in the genre.

The Story Continues

Artist Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) Moroccan Scene, oil on canvas; Gift of the Mahdah R. Kniffin Estate, 1971.30.

Both the Tanner and Porter pieces will also be featured in the upcoming BMA exhibition Roll Call: 200 Years of Black American Art, which is set to open in the fall.

“Showing them in both exhibitions is an exciting way to continue telling the many stories they contain,” Crosland said.

The BMA exhibition of Monet to Matisse also features works by two artists with Alabama ties — Clara Weaver Parrish and Carrie Hill.

“Both of these paintings were gifts to the BMA collection — Hill in 1951, and Parrish in 2016,” Crosland explained. “Hill and Parrish also both made art in France. We know that the Parrish pastel was exhibited in Paris, and Hill brought the styles she absorbed back to teaching art in Birmingham.”

Including works by Tanner, Porter, Hill, Parrish and others reflects the museum’s commitment to expanding narratives around art.

“The BMA is dedicated to collecting and sharing works by Alabama artists, women artists, and Black artists,” Crosland said.

“Monet to Matisse: French Moderns, 1850–1950″ will be on view through May 24 at the Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. Admission to the museum is free, but tickets are required to see the exhibit, priced at $10-$19.51. For more, visit the museum’s website at www.artsbma.org.

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