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HBCU Roundup: Cornelious Brown IV Powers Alabama A&M’s High-Octane Offense

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Birmingham Times
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AAMU quarterback Cornelious Brown IV, a 6-5, 210-pound redshirt senior, has been a key factor in the team's two-game winning streak heading into this weekend's game. (AAMU)

By Donald Hunt | Special to the Times

Alabama A&M (0-0, 2-1) has a chance to continue its winning ways against Lane College (0-1, 0-2) on Saturday, Sept. 20. The kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama. The Bulldogs are on a two-game winning streak coming off an impressive 23-21 victory over Tennessee State last week. AAMU quarterback Cornelious Brown IV has been a big factor in the team’s success. Brown, a 6-5, 210-pound redshirt senior, has completed 55-of-86 passes for 719 yards and five passing touchdowns this season.

Bulldogs running back Maurice Edwards leads the Southwestern Athletic Conference in rushing with79 carries for 308 yards including four TDs. Brown and Edwards’ stellar play has the team’s offense in high gear. Right now, the Bulldogs are tough to stop averaging 26 points a game.

Elsewhere in the SWAC, Alabama State will be on a bye week. The Hornets (0-0, 2-1) will return to playing field against Florida A&M (0-0, 1-2) Saturday, Sept. 27.

In the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), Miles College is still looking for its first win. Miles College (0-1, 0-3) will host Savannah State (0-1, 1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 20. The kickoff will be at 2 p.m. It looks like the Golden Bears could establish a ground attack with running back Roderick Thomas. On defense, linebacker Carson Prichett has been a consistent player.

In other action in the SIAC, Tuskegee University (1-0, 2-1) will visit Benedict College (1-0, 2-0) on Thursday, Sept. 18. The kickoff will be at 7 p.m. The Golden Tigers will attempt to get back on the winning track following a 30-0 loss to Jackson State.

Offensively, quarterback Raequan Beal, running back Johnny Morris and wide receiver EJ Hall have been standouts for the Golden Tigers. On defense, Tuskegee University will rely on linebackers Devon Irving Jr. and Kaquan Kimber to come up with some key stops.

UAB eMedicine Launches Tele-ICU Capabilities at UAB St. Vincent’s Locations

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Birmingham Times
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The UAB critical care telemedicine program prioritizes the value placed on patients’ access to critical care specialists and evidence-based care. (Andrea Mabry, UAB)

By Micah Hardge | UAB News

UAB eMedicine in partnership with UAB St. Vincent’s recently launched UAB Tele-Intensive Care Units at multiple locations.

Patients visiting UAB St. Vincent’s Blount, St. Clair and Chilton will now have access to the subspecialized care of physicians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital.

“Much like how our cellphones give us the ability to have a video call with a friend or family member in another city, state or country, the Tele-ICU is designed so that we have 24/7 access to UAB specialty clinicians who are not physically in our community hospitals,” said Paul Malito, director of Nursing Services with UAB eMedicine.

The Tele-ICUs at these locations will allow patients to receive care from experienced critical care physicians and nurses. This initiative ultimately seeks to broaden the scope of care received at smaller community-based locations. The access to these additional resources will strive to improve upon the already superior expert care received by visitors to these locations.

“One of the great benefits of the Tele-ICU program is being able to keep patients and their families close to home, in their community, while providing the highest level of care for our critically ill patients,” said Wes Smith, M.D., UAB St. Vincent’s regional chief medical officer.

The UAB critical care telemedicine program prioritizes the value placed on patients’ access to critical care specialists and evidence-based care. Integrating Tele-ICU capabilities into these locations will decrease the need for transfers and in-person consultations to UAB. This highlights the focus on simplifying patients’ health care experience, bringing more effective health care to patients.

“Telemedicine offers relief in the way of decreasing physician and nurse burnout, increasing patient numbers and acuities, and increasing financial return to those hospitals,” Malito said. “By partnering with UAB eMedicine, our communities will continue to receive top-quality health care as well as gain access to so many of the resources UAB has to offer.”

President Donald Trump’s DEI Order Came at a Cost to Alabama. Here’s an Estimate

By
Birmingham Times
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An NIH Pediatric Oncology Branch researcher's lab jacket, embroidered with the NIH logo with blue chevron detail. According to an HHS database, Alabama lost $250 million in grants following an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting DEI programs, though an unknown amount of that money has been restored. (National Institutes of Public Health)

By Ralph Chapoco | Alabama Reflector

Alabama lost almost $250 million after funding from 31 federal grants were discontinued after President Donald Trump issued an executive order to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the country, according to information obtained from a database released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

However, an unknown amount has been reinstated thereby reducing that total.

The losses stem from the more than $630 million in grants that were awarded from government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that had yet to be allocated to both agencies and universities throughout the state, according to an analysis from the Alabama Reflector.

The Alabama Reflector reviewed a database obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that identified the grants that were eliminated. Two state agencies and three universities lost funding because of the administration’s executive order.

“We continue to monitor, assess and address the developments regarding federal activity, and our government affairs professionals are actively engaged,” a spokesperson for the University of Alabama Birmingham said in a statement. “We do not have additional information to share at this time.”

The Alabama Department of Mental Health provided a list of programs that will continue to receive funding because of appropriations from Congress, and added, “At this time, we do not foresee federal impacts for mental health funding due to reduction in grant funding in fiscal year 2026.”

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) said they have had about $175 million eliminated because of the executive order.

“Based upon ADPH review of its grants, the loss of $175 million is the amount that ADPH can document, at this time,” the Alabama Department of Public Health said in a statement. That figure is lower than the almost $215 million that the agency has lost from the more than $760 million the agency had been awarded based on the analysis from the Alabama Reflector.

“The grants funded portions of programs for detection, prevention, and response to outbreaks of infectious disease in Alabama. While this loss of funding resulted in termination of some programs, ADPH was able to shift employees into other programs or not replace employees who were retiring or chose to move to other employment outside the agency,” the statement from ADPH said. “As a result of this loss of funding, ADPH continues to review its existing programs and determine how current and future funds can be used to support the work required of ADPH. This is all the information ADPH can provide, at this time.”

The Alabama Reflector reached out to Auburn University and the University of Alabama for additional information on the programs whose funding was eliminated.

Potential Consequences

Government experts warned of the potential consequences of the administration’s executive order and the chilling effect that it could have for research.

One practical consequence of the executive order is that it halts research that has been ongoing for years and possible findings that could result from the studies that could help address chronic and communicable diseases, according to Jill Rosenthal, director of public health policy at the Center for American Progress, a liberal-leaning organization. 

The second possible fallout is that it slows scientific progress.

“It also impacts America’s standing in scientific innovation,” Rosenthal said. “Those cuts and freezes to funding affect scientists and future scientists who want to go into this work. When their grants are cut or not available, there’s reports of folks looking to go to other countries and doing the research there.”

The Alabama Department of Mental Health lost roughly $22.5 million after grants were eliminated.

The database did not provide full details of the program whose funding was short-changed, but based on the descriptions in the spreadsheet. For example, ADPH lost $190 million for programs meant to prevent and contain emerging infectious diseases, while another $15 million was lost for projects to immunize and vaccinate children.

The description in the database stated that the program involved “immunizations and vaccines for children.” A second program was titled, “National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities.”

The most significant funding reduction, almost $157 million was for a program called, “2019 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC).”

The Alabama Department of Mental Health had to forgo about $15 million from a block grant to help address mental health and another $6 million for combatting substance abuse. The titles for programs whose grant funding was eliminated was called “Mental Health Block Grant – COVID Relief.”

The University of Alabama at Birmingham lost almost $7.5 million from $11 million in federal funding the university has been awarded to aid medical and scientific research and fund research opportunities for undergraduates as well as mentorships.

Some of the funding was for research into specific scientific subjects. One, for example, was titled, “Circadian changes in network excitability and Alzheimer disease pathogenesis.”

Both Auburn University and the University of Alabama had one grant each that was affected totaling about $600,000 in lost funding.

The grant for the University of Alabama that lost more than $185,000 was aimed at helping to recruit underrepresented students toward a nursing career. And the G-RISE program at Auburn University whose funding was cut by almost $440,000 was meant to encourage students from underrepresented groups to enter scientific fields.

Impact On The Economy

Aside from slowing scientific advancement, the funding reductions that stem from the elimination of the grants could hurt the economy of states whose researchers receive the grant money.

The Center for American Progress published an article in February that stated the funding reductions would threaten jobs.

“The NIH is a critical driver of biomedical advancements and generates significant economic activity in many states,” the report states. The article said that NIH funding contributed about $5.2 billion to the economy in Pennsylvania and $2.8 billion to Florida’s economy for fiscal year 2023.

Rosenthal went on to say that the executive order violates the process for allocating grant dollars that had been done in the past. Before, the decisions were based on an exact process that relied on the scientific method and on the judgement of scientists who understood the research.

“This process here is fundamentally biased in that it is based only on, in some cases, key word searches. There is talk of people who have lost grants based on a particular word in the grant without any fundamental understanding of what that grant would actually do.”

Discover Your Roots During Family History Month at Birmingham Public Library

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Birmingham Times
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The Birmingham Public Library’s Southern History Department is celebrating National Family History Month with multiple events. (Adobe Stock)

By Roy L. Williams | Birmingham Public Library

October is National Family History Month, and the Birmingham Public Library’s Southern History Department is celebrating with a full calendar of exciting and educational programs. Whether you’re just beginning your genealogy journey or a seasoned researcher looking for new tools, you’ll find something to spark your interest.

From AI in genealogy and DNA testing to Alabama ghost stories and a behind-the-scenes tour of the library’s treasured collections, these programs are designed to help you uncover the past and bring your family’s story to life.

All programs are free and no advanced registration is necessary.  For more information, call the Southern History Department at (205) 226-3665.

Why Attend Family History Month at BPL?

  • Learn practical skills to overcome genealogy roadblocks
  • Explore cutting-edge tools like AI and DNA testing
  • Connect with local experts and genealogists
  • Experience the rich history of Alabama through stories and rare collections
  • Celebrate your heritage with a supportive community

Family History Month Schedule of Events October 2025

Make Your Brick Walls Work for You
Wednesday, October 1 | 12:00 p.m.
Central Library Computer Center + Online via Zoom

Brick walls are a natural part of the genealogy landscape. In this kickoff of 2025 Family History Month, learn new strategies and revisit tried-and-true tools to break through those obstacles and keep your family tree growing.

Intro to Genealogy
Saturday, October 4 | 10:00 a.m.
Central Library Southern History Department, 1st Floor  BPL Research Library

New to genealogy? This beginner-friendly class will help you get started on your genealogical journey. BPL’s Southern History Department staff introduces vital records, courthouse and church documents, and federal census records to get you started.

Privacy Concerns in DNA Testing
Monday, October 6 | 12:00 p.m.
Central Library Computer Center + Online via Zoom

DNA testing for ancestry can break down genealogical brick walls and unlock family mysteries, but what about privacy risks? Why are some family history enthusiasts reluctant to use this powerful tool? Paul Boncella explores the “Big Four” testing companies’ privacy policies, and addresses common concerns. Be prepared to ask Paul questions about this and other genealogy issues.

Where Do You Think You Are? City Directories + Sanborn Maps
Wednesday, October 8 | 12:00 p.m.
Central Library Computer Center + Online via Zoom

Discover how city directories and Sanborn maps can help you recreate your ancestors’ neighborhoods. See how far they had to travel for work, school or church. Track how their communities changed and grew over the years.

Birmingham Genealogical Society Open House
Saturday, October 11 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Central Library Southern History Department

Stop by the Southern History Department for free research consultation and networking with experts from the Birmingham Genealogical Society. Bring your toughest genealogy questions and learn how this organization supports genealogy, local history, and how you can be a part of it.

Archives 101
Monday, October 13 | 12:00 p.m.
Central Library Computer Center + Online via Zoom

Join the Birmingham Public Library Southern History Department for our Archives 101 presentation. Learn what to expect when visiting archives, how to use BPL’s resources, and tips for working with digital collections and rare materials. This talk is perfect for those who have never been to the BPL Archives Department.

Essential Genetic Genealogy
Wednesday, October 15 | 12:00 p.m.
Central Library Computer Center + Online via Zoom

If you desire to get started in your researching your family tree or revisit genetic genealogy search started by others, there is a simple way to take your DNA test results further. Paul Boncella shows how to access tools from testing companies and use them effectively for your family research. Be prepared to ask questions.

Using AI in Genealogy
Monday, October 20 | 12:00 p.m.
Central Library Computer Center + Online via Zoom

Artificial intelligence is transforming genealogy research. Paul Boncella demonstrates how genealogists can use AI platforms and tools to speed up discoveries.

WorldCat for the Genealogist
Wednesday, October 22 | 12:00 p.m.
Central Library Computer Center + Online via Zoom

Researching your family history used to require extensive travel and correspondence with relatives to get your hands on the right materials. Learn how to bring the world to your door by using WorldCat, the online catalog of library materials around the globe. This course will cover how to use WorldCat to access materials for genealogical research worldwide without the travel.

Behind the Scenes Tour of Southern History
Wednesday, October 29 | 12:00 p.m.
Central Library Southern History Department

Get an insider’s look at rare treasures like the Blaeu Atlas, the 1926 Zone Map, and Miss Iwate, BPL’s Japanese doll. Meet the librarians and conservationists who preserve BPL’s Special Collections.  

Treasures and Hauntings of 1880’s Alabama, Jim Phillips
Thursday, October 30 | 2:00 p.m.
Central Library First Floor Grand Reading Room, 2100 Park Place

End Family History Month on a spooky note a day before Halloween as Alabama historian Jim Phillips will take attendees on a journey through the lost hauntings of 1800s Alabama. This talk will explore old ghost beliefs of antebellum Alabama, anecdotal tales of ghostly events told to Phillips through his explorations and research throughout Alabama and early New England vampire lore. Attendees are invited to bring in U.S. coins or bottles for a free appraisal. Sponsored by the Birmingham Genealogical Society.

Birmingham’s Well-Dressed: Derricius Chambers, Creative Director, DreeckBreon LLC

By
Birmingham Times
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Fashion multi-hyphenate Derricius Breon Chambers photographed at La Fête in downtown Birmingham. (Reginald Allen, For The Birmingham Times)

By Ameera Steward |For The Birmingham Times

Derricius Chambers, a 42-year-old native of Birmingham’s Ensley community, serves as an outreach coordinator for a company named EHeal by day. By night, he is a makeup artist, wardrobe stylist, photographer, creative director, director, and model under his company, DreeckBreon LLC.

“I put on plays, and I teach kids production. … [I also] love fashion, I love arts, I love beautification [and] the extent of glam—high fashion and editorial,” he said.

It all started when Chambers would watch his parents, Henry and Paulette Chambers, dress and groom themselves.

“They are two well-groomed individuals,” he said. “My mom was very into culture, … so she took me to [stores like World Market]. … We traveled a lot, too. She liked to find different [events] as far as fashion goes, … [and she took me to] Ebony Fashion Fair shows.”

For the past three months, The Birmingham Times interviewed some of the area’s leading fashion designers and tastemakers about the cultural and historical examination of Black style.

Chambers recalls a routine he and his mother would have on Saturdays. They would eat breakfast, go to the mall, eat lunch and then return to the mall before heading home—so, “I was in dressing rooms at a young age,” he recalled.

Additionally, he started performing at the age of 5: “I was always around makeup and wardrobe,” said Chambers, who also became the go-to person for fashion-related events.

Chambers graduated from Ensley High School in 2001 and went on to attend Alabama State University (ASU), where he studied criminal justice with a concentration on juvenile justice; his minor was theater.

Aside from his studies, Chambers was part of ASU’s Elite Models, “an organization that has led models … over the years to have connections and network with the best of models and fashion designers in the [fashion] industry,” according to an article at Medium.com. He also worked with the school’s Theater Artists Performing School (TAPS) program and Camp 3T (Teaching through Theater), both of which are dedicated to teaching children theater and production.

“I really grew fond of teaching grooming, hygiene, and wardrobe choices — what you wear to a business interview, what you wear to church — because a lot of people don’t think that we have certain wardrobe pieces and certain outfits for certain [situations],” said Chambers, who was introduced to another realm of fashion when he worked for Ultra Beauty and MAC Cosmetics at Montgomery, Alabama’s, Eastdale Mall.

“That job gave me a lot of knowledge,” he said. “[MAC doesn’t] do magazines or billboards, so the company [invested] all their advertising in [its employees]. … Working at MAC, I [was] meeting people from China, Canada, [the] Bahamas, … building networks and [learning] the aesthetics of different cultures and different places.”

After graduating from ASU in 2007, Chambers returned to Birmingham to take care of his mother, which meant finding a nine-to-five job. Still, because people knew of his talents and he stayed in fashion-related spaces, he was able to build his name and his business.

Chambers has worked as a stylist, makeup artist, and creative director with THS Productions, a Birmingham-based company that offers a broad range of creative services, including photography, videography, streaming, graphic design, and more. He also has worked with freelance photographer Myke B.

You can follow Derricius Chambers on Instagram: @dreeckbreon.

Q&A

The Birmingham Times (BT): Why is dressing well important?

Derricius Chambers: “Because that’s the first thing a person can know about you. … We see you before you open your mouth. [When] you think about your doctor or your lawyer or anybody in a profession, you know culture has given it a look. … Would you want to go and have a doctor operate on you and he didn’t look like a doctor?

“I’ve always thought that the way you look is the first thing that will represent you before [anyone] even gets to know who you are, and I [take] that to heart.”

BT: Why is dressing well important to you as a Black man?

DC: “Because it’s culturally rooted in us. Once we were able to showcase who we are visually through what we wore, we would always make sure we looked great because presentation was very important. … It was also a love language. … How you showed up was how people were going to perceive you and how they were going to handle you.

“And then moving from slavery to existing in society we had to look as if we weren’t what they thought we were, … so [the mindset was], ‘I can’t be out there walking around looking like I wasn’t free.’ [From] generation to generation, we always would look well even if we weren’t feeling well or if we didn’t have anything—we took pride in that, and I still take pride in that because if I don’t have anything, I’ve got me. So, by me having me, I have to treat [myself] like I appreciate myself. … For a Black man, the way he steps into a room is how he’s going to be perceived. And I think that, personally, when I look well and when I’m doing well it goes hand in hand.”

BT: What is your process when getting dressed each day?

DC: “[It’s based] on my mood, the climate, and what the day will [bring]. … I took over [Alabama State University’s (ASU’s)] Elite Models for 10 years. I was the coordinator, and one of the things I [would] always tell my [students under Elite Models] was where you’re going will tell you what you need to look like. … When you think about it [in that manner], it makes it fun for you. It’s not a job.”

BT: Any advice for young Black men who want to dress well?

DC: “Just do it, no second guessing. There’s no wrong way. … [And] don’t procrastinate, don’t be afraid to take chances. Be bold, be fearless. … Also, do not think you know so much that you can’t absorb the things that others are trying to offer — that’s only going to make you better.”

Iconic Birmingham Tailor Robert Hill and the Art of Custom-Made Designs

By
Birmingham Times
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Robert Hill, proprietor of Robert Hill Custom Tailors, inside his business on 32nd Street South in Birmingham. (Joseph Desciose, For The Birmingham Times)

By Ameera Steward | The Birmingham Times

Robert Hill still has the images of well-dressed men embedded in his mind from as far back as when he was 10 years old and it’s refreshing to still see that image continuously reflected in men’s clothing, he said.

“I remember coming up [as a] child, on weekends, you would see how Black men [were really] interested in their dress, and they took pride in the way they dressed. It was fascinating to see…how they would coordinate the clothing, [with] what little they had.”

This was during a time when his family lived in Montgomery and while it didn’t really change how he tailors his clothing, it did affect his perspective on how to dress and show up in the world.

He is now proprietor of Robert Hill Custom Tailors, which has been a staple in the city of Birmingham since its opening in 1983. From custom-made pieces to tailoring clothing to fit the body, Hill has offered his services to the community for over 40 years.

“My mission is to try to maintain the status of how men dress,” the 83-year-old Hill explained. “It’s exciting to do that … and it’s a pleasure to help people.”

Veteran tailor Robert Hill holding a pair of 40-year-old shears at his shop in Birmingham. (Reginald Allen, for the Birmingham Times.)

His favorite part of tailoring is helping customers decide “what they like…to fit them…coordinate the clothing and [accessorize] them,” Hill said. “That’s really an enjoyable part of the job…to see the joy they get out of what we’ve accomplished in…completing their wardrobe.”

The tailor is known for serving high profile customers like former Alabama head football coach Gene Stallings, ESPN radio host Paul Finebaum, and former Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington.

His store is filled with pictures of those and other notable politicians, and Crimson Tide football memorabilia — not to mention several colorful ties, pocket squares, and lapel pins.

Working from his 32nd Street South shop, Hill has built a reputation for being very detailed with a thread and needle. And despite running his own business over the last four decades, he said he doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon.

Although his Birmingham clientele has given him his flowers, earlier this year he received worldwide recognition due to his interview in the prestigious fashion magazine Vogue, celebrating this year’s Met Gala theme of Superfine: Tailoring Black Style – something Hill has become an expert of.

The Vogue piece was prepared in conjunction with the opening of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute exhibition Superfine: Tailoring Black Style and the 2025 Met Gala.

Hill estimates that 75 to 80 percent of his business comes from alterations, but he still offers custom suiting, parsing through fabric swatches and style books and adjusting patterns, designs, and fit for each client. In a field with few successors, Hill holds fast to the values of tradition, discipline, and legacy. “This kind of work, it teaches you to slow down, to be patient,” he said in the Vogue interview.

Robert Hill, proprietor of Robert Hill Custom Tailors, inside his business on 32nd Street South in Birmingham. (Joseph DeSciose, For The Birmingham Times)

The Man Behind the Clothes

Born and raised in Greater Washington Park of Montgomery, Alabama. Hill’s interest in fashion didn’t begin until he entered his sophomore year of high school at George Washington Carver High School in that city.

One of his teachers started a club for young men that taught them how to dress.

“It was very exciting to be part of that because I was kind of short and small [so] learning how to dress at the time was really interesting to me.” He learned the basics of dressing and how to be a well-dressed man, from how to tie a tie to how to coordinate his shoes with his outfit.

After graduating high school in 1961 he moved to Birmingham to study sewing at the Wenonah Vocational Technical School, and graduated in 1964.

Hill said he decided to make a career of fine dressing, not only because he was interested in clothing but he asked himself “what would be a job, that regardless of what happened…[I] could make a living [with]…I thought being a tailor would supply that need for me.”

Hill then went on to Chicago to work with “master tailors” for two years, “that’s where I got my hands-on experience” and learned the art of tailoring and how clothes were constructed, he said.

He returned to Birmingham and opened his first location on Third Ave. in 1983.

“It was difficult,” Hill explained. “I consider myself a believer of faith…it was hard on a Black person [with a] small business…I just had faith in God.”

In 2022, due to an increase in rent, Hill had to move his business to his current location – 712 32nd Street South.

The Robert Hill Custom Tailors team, from left, with Hill: Linda Davis, wife Barbara and Madeleine Neither. (Joseph DeSciose, For The Birmingham Times)

Tailoring Black Style

Although Hill is known as the face of Robert Hill Custom Tailors, there are women behind him who have helped keep the business running.

His wife of over 60 years, Barbara Hill, is considered “my backbone,” he said.

From handling the books and paperwork of the business, to creating the displays within the workspace, “she’s been an intricate part.”

“[Opening his business] wouldn’t have been possible…she was [definitely] supporting me one hundred percent…and that means a lot when your partner, your better half, supports what you do.”

Together they have four children, one of which they lost to cancer 12 years ago.

In addition to his wife, he has another woman in his life who he refers to as his “right hand” and someone who he now considers “part of my family.”

Madeline Niether has been with Hill since he opened the shop; and as his right hand she assists Hill with whatever is needed.

After all of these years, he is beyond grateful that Niether, Barbara and Birmingham still take the time to help him keep his legacy alive.

Robert Hill Custom Tailors: 205.252.0353; Address: 712 32nd St S, Birmingham, AL 35233; Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Tailor Robert Hill making adjustments to a clients’ pants at his shop located on the Southside of downtown Birmingham. (Reginald Allen, for the Birmingham Times.)

Business Owner Melvin Jefferson: Cut From a Different Cloth

By
Birmingham Times
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Melvin Jefferson, founder/owner of the Rapheal Renee Inc. menswear brand. (Provided Photos)

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | For The Birmingham Times

Growing up in the Westchester neighborhood of Forestdale, Alabama, just outside of Birmingham, Melvin Jefferson, founder and owner of the Ralpheal Renee Inc. menswear brand didn’t have to look far for classic fashionwear.

“My dad was a [certified public accountant (CPA)] for Alabama Power, [and] he always wore suits from Brooks Brothers, [one of the oldest clothing brands in the United States],” Jefferson remembered. “He taught us how to crease trousers and cuff our own pants — and he’d do it by hand. That precision stayed with him, and I think it was passed down to me.”

“My mom always got us long cashmere coats during the fall,” continued Jefferson, who has two siblings: Malcolm and Monique Jefferson. “My mom always loved leather, furs, pearls, diamonds. … She had this red leather suit that she would wear during the fall. … [My mom] definitely was the flair in the family. My dad was more of the conservative touch, but mom added that taste level.”

Jefferson’s family would attend the Westchester Ball, an event that was held at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), he recalled: “I remember my mom and dad buying the tuxedos, and my mom going to get the gowns. … [The ball] was just full of beautiful Black people, and they were all dressed to the nines. They were the definition of Black elegance.”

Those evenings made an impression, he said. “These were men who looked like me. They weren’t famous, but they had a presence. They dressed well. They lived well. They made me believe I could, too.”

The Ralpheal Renee menswear brand, which he has helmed since 2019, is rooted in luxury, culture, and intention. Its garments are crafted using Japanese and Italian silks, linen, and wool blends. And the collection is produced in small batches to ensure exclusivity and quality over quantity, he said.

Melvin Jefferson, founder/owner of the Rapheal Renee Inc. menswear brand. (Provided Photos)

A Doctor in the House

Jeffersons’s early fascination with clothing was shaped by his parents, neighbors, and fellow church members at Hopewell African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Birmingham’s Kingston community, all of whom were part of the city’s Black middle class.

Whether with family or attending school, his sense of fashion was always evident. By the time he reached Putnam Middle School in Birmingham, he would experiment with his school uniform, adding sweater vests and styling pieces from clothing brands like Banana Republic and the now-defunct Structure. Even the school’s principal took notice.

“He’d say, ‘Jefferson, you’re out of uniform, but, boy, you look good,’” the designer laughed.

As a teenager, Jefferson became enthralled with the world of high fashion through magazines like GQ and The Rake, as well as Esquire and its Big Black Book, which is considered a guide for style and luxury. Unable to afford the garments he saw on glossy pages, he turned to Birmingham’s thrift stores.

“I got into thrifting really heavy,” he said. “That opened the door to me gaining access to a lot of brands I’d see in publications. People would donate to the thrift stores in upper echelon neighborhoods.”

Jefferson graduated from G.W. Carver High School and attended Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU), where he studied pre-med and chemistry because he aspired to “become a doctor, a lawyer, a financial person, an engineer, or whatever.”

“I went to school for pre-med and chemistry. … I wanted to go to pharmacy school,” he said, adding that he credits his wife of seven years, Letisha Jefferson, now a medical doctor, for helping to steer him toward his current path.

“When we met [in June 2006], I told [my wife] I wanted to go to pharmacy school, [which was] kind of just living out the dream of what my parents wanted me to do. She was like, ‘Babe, that ain’t what you wanna do.’ She knew it. I knew it. And I credit her for opening me up and pushing me to do what I do now and helping me become very confident in it,” said Jefferson.

The couple got married in 2018 and now share a 2-year-old daughter, Zoé Renee Jefferson.

His first business venture, Classic Sophistication, launched in 2006 with his brother Malcolm. The brothers created a curated online resale boutique that was stocked with designer pieces they collected from thrift shops, cleaned and tailored, and resold online.

As for the name of his brand, Ralpheal Renee, it is derived from both Melvin and Letisha’s middle names. “It just has a really natural flow to it,” he said.

The Tutelage of a Tailor

Jefferson, 39, learned garment construction and tailoring under Sonya Faye Gardner, the revered Birmingham tailor and owner of Sonya Faye’s Tailor and Clothier, located in the city’s Historic 4th Avenue Black Business District.

“She would let me take the garments I found from thrifting and help me tailor them,” Jefferson recalled. “One of the first things she had me do was take apart a garment so I could understand how it was made, how it was constructed, how the seams came together, and how it was finished. She told me, ‘If you can take it apart and put it back together, you can make anything.’ That stuck with me.”

His first personal styling client was longtime friend John “Yung Vokalz” Bell, a local soul-singer and live performer.

“He was performing every Saturday night at Martini’s, [a nightclub in Hoover, Alabama, which is no longer standing], and I styled him week after week. … He loved it so much that my wife even called him my ‘hype man.’ That was the catalyst [for my personal styling career],” Jefferson said.

The rule of thumb Gardner drilled into Jefferson was “measure twice, cut once,” which still governs the way he approaches every design and fitting.

“When I’m fitting a client, I really take my time,” he said. “I have to look at the person’s body in the garment and determine what alterations need to be made — nip the waist, tuck the shoulders, shorten the sleeves, … like, if they have a lower shoulder or if they have longer arms. … It can’t be a rushed process.”

Melvin Jefferson, founder/owner of the Rapheal Renee Inc. menswear brand. (Provided Photos)

Legacy in the Lining

The Forestdale native, who now resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, travels internationally to destinations like Italy and Japan to source for himself, as well as curate for Rosenblum’s, a 127-year-old clothier in Jacksonville, Florida, for which he serves full-time as a buyer and stylist.

In June, Jefferson spent a week in Florence, Italy, attending Pitti Uomo, one of the most influential men’s fashion trade shows in the world.

“[Pitti Uomo] is pretty much a meeting of the minds,” said Jefferson. “Guys from all over the world who are the best at what they do meet up in Florence for four days. … We go to a convention center and look at what the different brands are presenting, what the different colors are for the season, and what different fabrications being presented.”

With Jefferson’s next collection, he said, “You’ll see a lot of inspiration from my high school days, college, on up to now. I’m featuring a polo first, then a trouser, a suit, a tuxedo, and a couple of other casual pieces, as well.”

Jefferson isn’t just designing clothing — he’s curating his legacy.

“It’s not so much that I just want to make clothing, but [rather] how I’m adding to the world. It’s about what type of mark and what type of legacy I want to leave when I leave [earth],” Jefferson said. “I think I’ve figured out my ‘why.’ My ‘why’ is to serve through what I do with clothing. … I get to brighten up days. I get to put smiles on faces.”

To find out more about Melvin Jefferson and the Ralpheal Renee clothing line, visit officialralphealrenee.com. You can also follow on Instagram and Facebook.

Birmingham Bar Association Remembers Survivors of the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing 

By
Birmingham Times
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From left: Gaile Pugh Gratton Greene, a shareholder at Sirote & Permutt, P.C., Bishop Jim Lowe, Senior Pastor, Guiding Light Church, and Lisa McNair, sister of church bombing victim, Denise NcNair. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

It was an evening of reflection as The Birmingham Bar Association hosted a forum honoring survivors of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, and marking the 62nd anniversary of the attack that killed four young girls.

Held at the Carver Theatre on Tuesday, the event featured Lisa McNair, the sister of bombing victim Denise McNair, and Bishop James Lowe, a survivor of the bombing, as the Birmingham community reflected on the pain of the past to draw lessons for today.

The program, moderated by Gaile Pugh Gratton Greene, a shareholder at Sirote & Permutt, P.C., heard Lowe and McNair shared stories detailing how the act of racial violence affected their lives.

Lowe was in the church the day it was bombed on Sept. 15, 1963. He was 11 years old.

“That event altered the direction of my life. It changed what I was going to become,” said Lowe, Bishop and Senior Pastor at Guiding Light Church in Birmingham. “I had visions even at the age of 11. I thought about being an attorney and I thought about being a policeman. I thought about different things I could do, a doctor because we had them in our community, and I thought well of them.”

Some things have changed over six decades, but a lot of challenges remain, Lowe said.

“There’s a group of people that wants to rule over others and go for power, not for truth, not for justice., but for what makes them be elitist and that they rule with that,” he said. “That’s not the way of God. That’s not the way of Christ. And someone needs to tell the truth, and we need to stop these divisive things that we go on about [like] what is your color, what is your background … Stop all this religious bigotry, stop all this racism that we have, and come together.”

McNair said it is important to continue to talk about what happened Sept. 15, 1963. Addie Mae Collins 14, Cynthia Wesley 14, Carole Robertson 14, and Denise McNair, 11 — died in the blast.

“I cannot tell you the number of people I meet sometimes throughout the years that [tell me] ’I’ve never heard of that bombing’ I didn’t know about that,’” McNair said. “People from here, that is the part that is a little scary too … People say, if you do not know your history, you are destined to repeat it.”

McNair said the church bombing is a perfect example of a conversation for two people who don’t get along with “because everybody can agree that killing children in church on a Sunday morning was evil,” McNair told the audience adding, “we have to remember that 62 years ago, four little girls were killed and it woke up people. But we need to stay awake and continue to love each other and share memories.”

Former U.S. Senator Doug Jones, who as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, successfully prosecuted two of the Ku Klux Klan members responsible for the bombing, also served on a panel.

“I think unity is a quest for sure, but I think civility, engagement, and respect for your fellow man — I think that’s the bigger message, that’s the most important thing front and center right now,” he said.

 

Magical Run Ends for Birmingham Youth Choir in ‘America’s Got Talent’ Semis

By
Birmingham Times
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The Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir performed "No One" by Alicia Keys in the semifinals of "America's Got Talent" during Season 20. (Trae Patton, NBC)

The Birmingham Times

When results from overnight voting were announced on Wednesday’s America’s Got Talent episode the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir was eliminated.

The choir wasn’t among 10 acts voted into the finals round, set for Sept. 23-24. But the troupe, directed by Ahkeem Lee, earned plenty of praise and fans throughout Season 20, with celebrity judge Simon Cowell as its champion.

The Alabama vocal troupe, a fan favorite on AGT, performed on the NBC reality series on Tuesday night during a round known as the semifinals. The choir, more than 30 members strong, offered a rousing rendition of Alicia Keys’ “No One.” They earned a standing ovation from the show’s judges and studio audience.

Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir
The Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir performed “No One” by Alicia Keys in the semifinals of “America’s Got Talent” during Season 20. (Trae Patton, NBC)
The choir earned a coveted Golden Buzzer from Cowell during its initial audition, which aired in July. The choir’s performance of “Joyful, Joyful” impressed the notoriously tough judge, and allowed the singers to advance directly from the auditions to the quarterfinals, skipping any cuts in-between.

The singers also impressed Cowell during the quarterfinals on Sept. 9, performing vignettes of two songs: Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You” and Kirk Franklin’s “When I Think About Jesus.”

Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir
The Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir performed “No One” by Alicia Keys in the semifinals of “America’s Got Talent” during Season 20. (Trae Patton/NBC)
The choir, founded in 2015, is a nonprofit organization that “aims to provide a creative space for youth and young adults to share and develop their musical talents through proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” according to its website. The group also is linked to Birmingham’s historic 16th Street Baptist Church.

Supporters from the church and the city were featured in a video that aired on Tuesday’s episode, introducing the choir’s latest performance. “You represent the best of who we are,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin.

“When you put faith, determination, and sacrifice together with a bunch of young people, anything is possible,” choir director Lee said on Tuesday. “Birmingham, Alabama, is an amazing city. These young people are amazing. We are here and we are showing that Birmingham, Alabama, has something to say.”

If you watch: The finals of “America’s Got Talent” air on Tuesday, Sept. 23, and Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. CT on NBC. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.

Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com contributed to this post.

 

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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Kim Scott (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

ENJOY THIS WEATHER!!!

TODAY, SEPTEMBER 18…

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

**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.

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

**BIRMINGHAM BEVY KARAOKE at Saturn.

**JUNO DUNES with MODERN BODIES & BLOOD MOON RIOT at The Nick.

**SANTIGOLD at Iron City.

**THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS KARAOKE MINGLE, each week with Karaoke at 8 p.m., Spin to Win ‘til 9 p.m. and Happy Hour ‘til 9 p.m. with Sounds by DJ SLUGGA and hosted by JIRUS HORTON at Tee’s on 2nd.  FREE Entry all night.

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

**JOSE CARR EVERY THURSDAY, 5-7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre, Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, at 1631 4th Avenue North.

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

**EVERY THURSDAY- THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.

**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.

**FILM at Sidewalk Film.

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

**BIRMINGHAM BEVY KARAOKE at Saturn.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19…

IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…

**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.

**THE CRITICALS with NEW TRANSLATIONS at The Nick.

**BACK TO THE TRAP, LATE NIGHT at The Nick.

**CAN’T FEEL MY FACE: 2010s DANCE PARTY at Saturn.

**THE STORY SO FAR: FALL TOUR 2025 at Iron City.

**BLACKBERRY SMOKE – RATTLE, RAMBLE & ROLL 2025 w/NAT MYERS at the Avondale Brewing Co.

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

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20…

**2025 MUSIC FEST at Irondale’s 138th Birthday Celebration, 3 p.m. featuring KIM SCOTT AND KEN FORD, with THE EMILY JOSEPH BAND and THE OFFICIAL CLUTCH BAND.  FREE.

**EMO NIGHT BROOKLYN at Saturn.

**THAT 1 GUY at the Nick.

**BINGO LOCO at Iron City.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21…

**SINGO BINGO EVERY SUNDAY, 1 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company.

**AVONDALE VINTAGE MARKET, Noon – 6 p.m. at Avondale Brewing Co.

**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 KYLE KIMBRELL at The Nick.

**JOECEPHUS & THE GEORGE JONESTOWN MASACRE at The Nick.

**CONWAY DICKINSON AND LONESOME STYLE with NOAH NASH at The Nick.

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

**FREE! JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH at Saturn.

**LOVE RAT – ALBUM RELEASE SHOW at Saturn.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22…

**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.

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at The Nick.

**GOON with HOT SPIT at Saturn.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23…

**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.

**TACO TUESDAY R & B NIGHT, EVERY THURSDAY 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 TUESDAY at The Nick.

**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE LATE NIGHT TUESDAYS at The Nick.

**FREE – SUBSTRACL BINGO with JACKIE LO at Saturn.

**YACHTLEY CREW at Iron City.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24…

**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.

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

**SHARED WALLS with NIGHTMARE CUTIEPIE & LOWERHYBRID at The Nick.

**SUNDROP OPEN DECK at The Nick.

**CEMETERY MAN at Saturn.

**MALCOLM TODD – THE WHOLESOME ROCKSTAR TOUR PT 2 at Avondale Brewing Co.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25…

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

**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.

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

**KATE HOLLINGSWORTH at Saturn.

**THE HALFZIES at The Nick.

**THE OCHO in the Upstairs at Avondale.

**ZOSO THE ULTIMATE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE at Iron City.

 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26….

**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.

**THE TAPE CASSETTES, CARDBOARD GIANTS (Birmingham), MILKY WHITE (Tupelo), and FROG PATROL (Birmingham) at The Nick.

**LIGHTNING BOLT with KILL ALTERS at Saturn.

**OCTOBER 1-3 – The 2025 HBCU DEBATE + ESPORTS INVITATIONAL will bring students from HBCUs, high schools, colleges, employers and civic partners for debate, esports and workforce development. The College Fair + Esports Finals is October 2 at Topgolf. The Career & Opportunity Expo is October 3 at the BJCC. For visit: thepennygames.com.

**FIRST TEE FALL REGISTRATION – Fall sessions are open and will take place at the Oaks Golf Course at Oak Mountain, Roebuck Hawkins Golf Course, Highland park Golf Course and Woodward Golf & Country Club. Registration is required. Scholarships are available. No participant will be turned away from inability to pay. Visit firstteebirmingham.org.

**AKEELAH AND THE BEE – THE PLAY at the ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME in the Carver Theatre, October 2-4 by the Encore Theatre and Gallery. It is not just about spelling words; it is about courage, community and the kind of determination that changes lives. For more, 205-202-4008.

**PODCASTING 101 CLASS- Every Tuesday, FREE class where you can learn how to launch and create your own podcast. Classes are held at 1601 5th Avenue North.

**GIRLS MENTORING – The YWCA Central Alabama Family Resource Center with Girls, Inc. is starting the monthly sessions beginning October 11, 2025 through May, 2026. Primary goal is to equip participants with practical tools for positive personal development. Sessions are from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the 2nd Saturday of each month for young ladies in grades 8-12th.  FREE. Registration required.

**MAGIC CITY CLASSIC COMMUNITY TAILGATE AWARDS is October 22, 12 – 4 p.m. at Arlington House with resources, food and music.

SOME OF THE BEST FALL FESTIVALS IN ALABAMA…Coming in October …

FALL IN ALABAMA can’t be beat! Festivals, outdoor things to do, beautiful weather, leaves, football and so much more. Don’t even talk about the food! So, lets get started with the festivals…

**OCTOBER 2-4 – OKTOBERFEST in Cullman set for Thursday through Saturday with beer, traditional food, 5K and 10 K races and contests, music and cultural exhibits. FREE.

**OCTOBER 3-4 – ALABAMA BUTTERBEAN FESTIVAL in Pinson includes a 5K race, a petting zoo, arts and crafts and kid friendly activities. FREE.

**OCTOBER 9-12 – ANNUAL NATIONAL SHRIMP FESTIVAL brings you fresh from the Gulf seafood for four days in Gulf Shores with musical entertainment featuring national, regional and local arts including blues, Motown, southern rock, jazz, zydeco and country. AND, FOOD is a whole ‘nother festival with vendors along the boardwalk at the public beach with all kinds of goodness.  ART Lovers will have a field day with all of the booths of fine art and arts and crafts to check out. FREE

**OCTOBER 18 – CONECUH SAUSAGE FESTIVAL in Evergreen. Get to know, eat and love the Conecuh sausage if you don’t already and ‘love it’ along with the activities including a cook-off, live music vendors, food, crafts and other goodies. FREE at the Regional airport.

**OCTOBER 25-26 – ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE in Florence on the last weekend of October includes sword fighting, fire dancing, minstrels and troubadours and merry maypole dancing with beverages, meats and more. FREE.

**OCTOBER 25-26 – RIVER CLAY FINE ARTS FESTIVAL in Decatur where young artist display and make art.

**OCTOBER 31-November 9 – NATIONAL PEANUT FESTIVAL in Dothan with peanut sculptures larger than life, rides, a food fair and no doubt ‘plenty of peanuts, and more.

**NOVEMBER 2 – DIA DE LOS MUERTOS ALABAMA in Birmingham held at the Sloss Furnaces National historic Landmark with art, vendors and more.

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

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