What Pope Leo XIV Means to Black Catholics in the Birmingham Region

May 29, 2025

_DSC3060 — Brent Patterson, Acolyte/Lector, at Our Lady of Fátima Catholic Church in Birmingham's historic Titusville neighborhood. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey and Don Rhodes II | The Birmingham Times

“Shocked and excited.” “A powerful moment.” “Overwhelming.” “A pope for the people.”

Those were sentiments from a few Black Catholics in the Birmingham-area after Pope Leo XIV became the first North American and first person of Haitian and African American descent to be elected to lead the global Catholic community.

“I was shocked and excited when I heard that the pope was American,” said Brent Patterson, who has been a member of Our Lady of Fátima Catholic Church in Birmingham’s historic Titusville neighborhood for the past 14 years. “Shocked that in over 2,000 years of the church’s existence, no pope has been American. … Excited that he is American like me and potentially has Black, Creole, and Spanish [ancestry].”

Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, becoming the first Holy Father (a title of reverence used by Catholics to address the pope) from the United States. He took the name Pope Leo XIV and now leads the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics, including 125,000 total in Birmingham — about 4,000 of which are Black, according to the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. He is the successor to Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina), who died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 years old after serving 12 years as leader of the global Catholic community.

Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago, Illinois, but 19th-century census records show that all four of his maternal great-grandparents were “free people of color” in Louisiana. The pope’s maternal family was part of a rich tradition of Black Catholicism in New Orleans, Louisiana, where African-descended individuals were introduced to the faith, according to census records.

Brent Patterson, Acolyte/Lector, at Our Lady of Fátima Catholic Church in Birmingham’s historic Titusville neighborhood. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Patterson said Pope Leo XIV’s diverse background will “spark more interest in and bring more attention to Catholicism and to the Black and Brown Catholic communities that tend to get overlooked at times, especially in the South, [because] it helps Catholics in America feel like they are being seen.”

“With him having a potential Black, Creole, and Hispanic lineage, it opens it up for more representation for other minorities within the Catholic church,” added Patterson, who converted to Catholicism from Southern Baptist in April 2011.

“I felt in my heart that God was leading me to it,” he said. “It was just something about the Eucharist and the communal service of the church.”

Patterson currently serves the church in multiple roles: “I am the Acolyte/Lector, [someone appointed to read the Word of God], for Our Lady of Fátima Catholic Church and the [Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN)] of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, [and an] Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion,” also known as a Eucharistic Minister, or a lay person who assists with Holy Communion.

Patterson, 47, who resides in Pelham, Alabama, but used to live in Birmingham, said he is looking forward to seeing what Pope Leo XIV brings to the faithful, including a “solid philosophical and intellectual grasp of Biblical and Catholic doctrine by using his pastoral strengths to influence others as a bridge-builder and as a loving Servant of Christ.”

One of the pope’s alternative titles is that of Supreme “Pontiff,” or “bridge-builder.” According to the website Catholic Share, “In ancient Rome, [Pontiff] referred to priests who connected the human and divine through rituals.”

Here’s what some other Black Catholics in Birmingham had to say about the recently installed Pope Leo XIV:

Edith Aguillard

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Aguillard grew up as a “cradle Catholic,” someone who has been a Catholic from birth, raised in a Catholic family, and typically received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion since she was “four weeks old,” she said.

Hearing that Robert Francis Prevost had been elected to become the 267th occupant of the throne of St. Peter “was overwhelming for me.”

Another alternative title for the pope is “‘Successor of the Prince of the Apostles,’ referring to St. Peter, [who] is called the ‘prince’ because he was the leader among the apostles, chosen by Christ in John 21:15–17 to feed His sheep. The pope inherits this leadership as Peter’s direct successor.”

“I grew up with Pope John Paul XXIII, [who served from 1958 to 1963 and was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis in 2014], and things were a little bit different,” said Aguillard, 73, who attends St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bessemer, Alabama. “I think Pope Leo XIV is going to continue the work of Pope Francis. I think he will definitely be a builder of bridges.”

Aguillard added, “[Pope Leo XIV] is going to be one that connects the different churches and makes sure that the church is still being uplifted and growing at all times. His devotion to the Blessed Mother [Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ], I can connect to.”

Being Catholic in New Orleans was easy, said Aguillard, because “you have Catholic churches everywhere. … It was the most blessed piece of my life. I was my grandmother’s shadow. The Catholic parish that I belonged to in New Orleans actually started in the driveway of my grandparents’ home.”

When Aguillard moved to Birmingham in 1991, she visited several Catholic churches before finding a home at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, where she has spent 32 years in numerous roles, including Director of Religious Education (DRE), a Lector, and a Eucharistic Minister.

“I also work with the youth when it comes to dance and sometimes choir, in addition to working in the atmosphere of the church. I do a lot of shifting of plants and things like that,” said Aguillard.

She loves what she does for her church, as well as the children who attend there: “I love my children. I love the youth and their involvement in the parish,” said Aguillard.

Former Birmingham Mayor William Bell is a lifelong Catholic and has been member of Our Lady Fátima Catholic Church in Birmingham’s historic Titusville neighborhood for more than 60 years. (File)

William A. Bell

“It’s just a powerful moment,” said former Birmingham Mayor Bell, a member of Our Lady Fátima Catholic Church for more than 60 years. “To see someone [of Haitian descent] with African American roots become pope, it’s like the church is finally reflecting the body of Christ in all its diversity.”

Bell credits Pope Francis, who served for 12 years as the Vicar of Christ, an alternative title that means the pope represents Christ on earth, for paving the way.

“Pope Francis gave the Cardinals a more global vision. His leadership helped them see the church not just through the eyes of Rome but through the hearts of people from every corner of the world. That made Pope Leo XIV’s election possible.”

Bell, 75, a lifelong Catholic, said his family has been Catholic for generations, “but I’ve never seen something like this. It’s like watching history—like when Obama became president” in 2008.

The former mayor drew parallels between the election of Pope Leo XIV and a renewed sense of hope in the church.

“This isn’t just about where he’s from,” Bell said. “It’s about what he represents. A faith that embraces all people. A church that’s growing and evolving.”

One of the most talked-about aspects of the new pope is his choice of name — Leo — instead of following his predecessor in choosing to be Pope Francis II.

Bell said that choosing a name is deeply symbolic: “He chose Leo to honor both Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903 and was known for advocating for the poor, and St. Francis [of Assisi], who gave up everything for the sake of service. It sends a powerful message.”

Charles Benjamin

Charles Benjamin, who attends Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Southwest Birmingham, said, “I’m a huge fan of Pope Francis, and I already love Pope Leo XIV.”

“He was elected so quickly because he’s real — you can see Christ in him,” He added. “He walks the walk and talks the talk. He’s a pope for the people.”

Benjamin highlighted how Pope Leo XIV’s leadership is grounded in Scripture, particularly the 25th chapter of Matthew, which emphasizes caring for the poor and marginalized.

“That’s who Pope Leo XIV is. He wants us to come together as one body in Christ, and he’s leading by example,” he said.

Learning about the pope’s Haitian roots and Creole heritage has also inspired many.

“He’s bringing his own flavor to the name and to the office,” Benjamin added. “It’s exciting to see someone lead the church who reflects both where we’ve been and where we’re going.”

Edith Aguillard: A Lifelong Catholic on Being ‘Overwhelmed’ by a New Pope

Birmingham Times

May 29, 2025

_DSC3326 — Edith Aguillard inside St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bessemer, Alabama. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

When Edith Aguillard moved to Birmingham from New Orleans, Louisiana, nearly 35 years ago she knew exactly what she wanted to find in her new city — a Catholic church.

“I went to churches everywhere,” she recalled. “I attended a church in Hoover, [Alabama], where I lived, but it just didn’t fit. So, I searched and searched.”

Aguillard, who came to the Magic City to work for a telephone company, brought something else when she arrived. Her faith.

She’s been Catholic for as far back as she can remember and describes herself as a “cradle Catholic,” someone who has been a Catholic from birth, raised in a Catholic family, and typically received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion since she was “four weeks old,” said Aguillard, who found a home at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bessemer, Alabama, where she has been a parishioner for 32 years.

Being raised in a Catholic family, she remembers walking in her “grandmother’s shadow.”

“It was the most blessed piece of my life,” said Aguillard. “The Catholic parish I belonged to in New Orleans actually started in the driveway of my grandparents’ home. I followed every step that [my grandmother] walked. I was attached to her hip when she went to church and to different things.

“There was a Novena, [an ancient tradition of devotional praying, a form of worship consisting of special prayers or services repeated for nine successive days], that we did on Tuesday to Our Lady of Fátima. … I would follow my grandmother carrying that bag that had all of the prayer cards with her up through my high school years. Once that’s been embedded in you, it’s really hard to turn it off. It doesn’t just wear off. It’s there forever.”

Edith Aguillard, Director Religious Education at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bessemer, Alabama stands beside photo of the late Pope Francis. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Hearing that Robert Francis Prevost had been elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church “was overwhelming for me. I grew up with Pope John Paul XXIII, [who served from 1958 to 1963 and was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis in 2014],” said Aguillard.

Of the recently installed Pope Leo XIV, she said, “I think Pope Leo XIV is going to continue the work of Pope Francis. I think he will definitely be a builder of bridges.”

One of the pope’s alternative titles is that of Supreme “Pontiff,” or “bridge-builder.” According to the website Catholics Share, “In ancient Rome, [Pontiff] referred to priests who connected the human and divine through rituals.”

Pope Leo XIV is the successor to Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina), who died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 years old after serving 12 years at leader of the global Catholic community.

“Strong Foundation”

Pope Leo XIV — the first North American and first person of Haitian and African American descent elected to serve as the Vicar of Christ (an alternative title that means the pope represents Christ on earth) — also has ties to New Orleans, “where you could find a Catholic church on every corner,” Aguillard said.

“From the street that I lived on, you could find churches within like a 10-block radius. … Catholicism was one of the strongest things in New Orleans, where I grew up. We all went to Catholic elementary schools. We all went to Catholic high schools. We all went to Catholic colleges — not us, but my friends did.

“It’s important to know that [Pope Leo XIV] had such a strong foundation as a young child with Catholic teachings. I don’t know what his history was, what he did as a child. … Most of the young men, they grow up in a Catholic church, they become an altar server, they become a deacon, some become priests — they grow up in that life of Catholicism,” she said.

Aguillard, 73, added that life in the church has helped her in several ways.

“One of my favorite saints is St. Jude Thaddeus. … The Shrine of St. Jude is a big shrine in New Orleans, [and] people come from all over the world to go to that shrine. There’s a Novena that happens every Tuesday in the city of New Orleans, and you go to that shrine daily. I had five miscarriages before I had my son, so I started praying in Novena to St. Jude, asking him to intercede for me and bring me through a healthy delivery with a healthy child. My son is named Travis Jude Aguillard, [now 43].”

“Yes, we go to Jesus,” said Aguillard. “Yes, indeed, I pray to God. But I ask these saints that I know are in connection with God to intercede for us. That’s what we do with the Blessed Mother [Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ]. We ask her to intercede for us—‘Go to your son. Can you ask your son for something? Can you ask your son to do this?’”

She continued, “When I was going through those struggles with pregnancy, I went to St. Jude. He’s the saint of the impossible. He’s the saint of things that just don’t happen to people. You don’t have just Catholics that pray to St. Jude. You have non-Catholics that pray to St. Jude because they have gone and asked for intercession and had their prayers answered.”

Edith Aguillard looking up at the Blessed Mother Mary at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bessemer, Alabama and tearfully recalling how the Blessed Mother intercedes in times of struggles and joy. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

“Love One Another”

Since moving to Birmingham, Aguillard has done more than attend church. She been on the board for the Office of Black Catholic Ministries; attended conferences, and workshops; and been involved with the National Black Catholic Congress. She also has been a Director of Religious Education (DRE) for the past 25 years for the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, in addition to working with different youth projects.

“This past winter, my youth group collected clothes and brought clothes to [people dealing with homelessness] at Linn Park in Birmingham,” Aguillard said. “At the end of this summer, we’re going to do it again. … My youth project with them is to take care of the unhoused.”

There are a few lessons Aguillard wants her students to absorb.

“The love of God, the importance of knowing the Catholic faith, of knowing the growth of the Catholic faith, and the need for them to be involved in God’s plan,” she said. “God tells us we need to be humble, we need to be united, we need to take care of each other, we need to love one another unconditionally as He loves us, and that is the basic teaching for all of it.”

She added, “We also look at their academics to see what they do. I had one young lady … and a young man, [both of whom] attend John Carroll Catholic High School, and they’re enriched in their Catholic faith. … They want to learn more, they want to do more, they want to understand more. … The teachings that happen in the Catholic schools and the teachings that happen in the Catholic churches are critical to their growth as lifelong Catholics.”

One of the challenges facing the Catholic church, like for many houses of worship, is attracting more young people.

Aguillard said, “We’ve had several Catholics that have left for whatever reason. … The focus right now is getting those Catholics back into our churches, filling those pews. We pray for that at every morning mass, that we bring our Catholic people back to the Catholic faith. Some of our youth have pulled away from the church, … some of the kids want this ‘newness,’ and that’s what we’re trying to bring to the Catholic church — some newness and some freshness.”

Aguillard said Pope Francis was headed in that direction, and she expects Pope Leo XIV to continue by making the church more welcoming.

“What I’ve seen [from Pope Leo XIV] is that he is opening doors to the Vatican for political discussions for peace. [Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, and J.D. Vance, U.S. Vice President were recent visitors to the Vatican, which serves as the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church.] … He wants peace back into the world,” Aguillard said.

“I think that’s going to be one of his biggest focuses, working with these different entities of bringing peace. … I think he’s going to be paramount in some of those decisions to do that. To watch him and to listen to him, … when he started to talk about unity and started talking about peace and started talking about healing. … I’m going, ‘Hmm, you’re exactly what we’ve been praying about in all the churches.’ … I think we’re going to sit back and watch [Pope Leo XIV] make some strides in things that happen worldwide, and I’m ready for it.”

College Program for Black Women at Alabama and Tuskegee Canceled Weeks Before Start

Birmingham Times

May 29, 2025

City0529 1 — The Legacy program was a federally-funded program that encouraged Black girls to enter computer science. (Contributed)

By Williesha Morris | wmorris@al.com

Phanuelle Manuel said having a fellow Black woman as a mentor helped her visualize a future in computer science.

Manuel, and hundreds of other high school students, received training, mentorship and support on Advanced Placement tests as part of a national effort to encourage more Black women to enter computer science.

“I could see myself succeeding in the future,” said Manuel, who is now a freshman at the University of Alabama. “I would say it’s a lot more encouraging seeing somebody do it first that looks like you.”

UA and Tuskegee University were two of seven colleges that offered programming funded by one of the grants terminated by the National Science Foundation in April. Now the $3.5 million program has come to a halt, weeks before students were set to arrive on UA’s campus in June.

“I already had the dorms reserved and the meal plan set up, and we even were starting applications,” said Jeff Gray, the program’s primary investigator and a computer science professor at the College of Engineering. “Some of us have spent 300 or so hours on the project.”

The Legacy program, a collaboration between seven predominantly white and historically Black colleges, planned to work with 600 students from Mississippi, Ohio, Michigan and Alabama through 2028. The year-long program included mentorship from leaders at companies like Intel and training on computing and coding.

Black women make up “only 3 percent of the tech workforce. And even fewer Black women have leadership roles in Silicon Valley,” according to the United Negro College Fund.

Legacy was an expansion of an Alabama program that began in 2019. Initial results showed 72 percent of 71 of the Black girls who participated received a score of 3 or higher on the AP test. They outpaced the national average score for every other group, including white and Asian males, according to Mohammed Qazi, one of the project’s faculty organizers at Tuskegee University.

“We’d Have To Pivot”

Once President Donald Trump issued an executive order telling universities to stop race-specific programming, Gray tried to pivot and keep the program open.

“We knew if we wanted to keep it alive at least for the next year, we’d have to pivot,” Gray said. Gray is an associate professor at UA and has been doing outreach to K-12 students for 20 years. “So we expanded it to all genders, all races. And then the week after we did that we got terminated.”

Alabama is one of the top five computer science education states in the country, according to Gray, who said the program was a great fit for Gov. Kay Ivey’s initiative to improve computer science opportunities in the state. As of fall 2024, there are 1,100 students studying computer science at UA, according to the school’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

He said the program focused on “equity of opportunity” to help students who have the aptitude but were unaware of careers in computer science.

“We were just trying to open doors,” Gray said.

Qazi said the program’s objectives were expansive. They were not trying to turn every student into a computer scientist but instead help students explore the topic in depth and find role models.

“Our role is to also remove the barriers to access,” Qazi said. “Often in these rural communities there’s not the type of mentoring that is available in the more affluent districts.”

“Community And Sisterhood”

Most importantly, Qazi said, the project creates a bond between the girls that doesn’t end when the program is over.

“That aspect of community and sisterhood played a very big role in the success of the project,” Qazi said.

The program was more than about academic coursework and training but about making social connections “that had a tremendous impact” on the program’s success, he said.

Manuel made friends that she stays in touch with. Her older sister, Phaedra, also participated in the program and got interested in computer science. Phaedra started a computer science club at Hoover High School and Manuel joined it, too.

“I wasn’t into computer science,” Manuel said. “Computers and technology were cool, but it wasn’t my thing. A lot of the things my sister did guided me into my career path.”

She said many students get frustrated and bogged down with programming, but she reveled in it.

“I always tell people around me that I’d rather struggle with my code for hours than pretty much do anything else, because it’s a very rewarding experience,” Manuel said. She entered UA as a Randall Research Scholar, an Honors College program for students interested in the computing field.

Manuel learned about the grant cancellation while attending the National Center for Women & Information Technology conference. She was a keynote speaker and said she was disappointed and shocked when Gray told her.

“My mind is still kind of reeling about it, because it was such an integral part of my life and my sister’s life,” Manuel said. “And getting to know Dr. Gray through that program is the reason why I attend UA at all.”

Qazi said he’s devastated and hopes other opportunities emerge to continue the project in compliance with the federal government.

“We need funding, because we have to provide compensation to the teacher leaders. We have to provide these resources,” he said.

“The ones who are going to suffer are the students,” Qazi said. “We’ll survive as faculty, but the students are not going to get the support they need, unfortunately. Both financial and also career building, that support is gone. That’s what’s very disheartening. Those who are the least privileged continue to suffer.”

Manuel said backlash against DEI programming won’t deter her from surrounding herself with Black people and women in computer science and work towards achieving her goals.

“No matter what the government says, what restrictions say, I know that I belong in this field, and I know that I love this field,” Manuel said. “I’m not going to change my interests because someone out there thinks I can’t accomplish this or I don’t deserve to accomplish this.”

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

Birmingham Times

May 29, 2025

PPT0529 2 — Cooking Class Series with Carver Jones Market and emeals on June 7, July 12 and August 2, 10:30 a.m. at Urban Hope Café, 4708 Gary Avenue, Fairfield, AL, 35064. (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

THIS IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH! (Listen and help when or how you can!)

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**FREE MOVIE TRIVIA NIGHT at Saturn.

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IT IS Friday…the weekend starts…

**TRIBUTE TO STEVIE WONDER in The LISTENING ROOM, 7 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3^rd Music Galley.

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**KARAOKE SATURDAYS, 3 p.m. at 3605 Gray Avenue, Adamsville, with the ALL-EN ONE BBQ with Chef Randy ”Dee” Allen and The Lovely LaToria at the 7 Angels Coffee & Smoothie Café.

**SKATE & SHOP with Vibes by DJ KC, 4-8 p.m. at City Walk Roller Rink (Red Block).

**TRIBUTE TO ANITA BAKER in The LISTENING ROOM, 7 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3^rd Music Gallery with unforgettable and captivating sounds from BYRON THOMAS AND ECLECTIC SOUL. Food Service by Green Acres Café. For more info, jazzison3rd.com.

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**SUNDAY NIGHT with KYLE KIMBRELL at The Nick.

**2^ND SUNDAY FREE with ZACH AUSTIN, 5-7 p.m. at The Nick.

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MONDAY, JUNE 2…

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TUESDAY, JUNE 3…

**ASK AN ATTORNEY, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the West End Library

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**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE EVERY TUESDAY, 10 p.m. at The Nick.

**THE BODY WITH SUNROT at Saturn.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4…

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

**EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT with SUNDROP at The Nick.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 5…

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

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**PENNYROYAL, OXMOOR & ORANGE MUDD at The Nick.

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**LATE NIGHT with SPLASH, DUTCH PIGEON and LILUNA at The Nick.

**NO FILTER ADULT CABARET at Saturn.

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**ELECTRIC AVENUE – THE 80’S MTV EXPERIENCE at Iron City.

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**DRAG NIGHT at the Nick.

**FRIDAY NIGHT LATE NIGHTS WITH SUNDROP at The Nick.

**MAYDAY PARADE w/ MICROWAVE, GRAYSCALE & LIKE ROSES at Avondale Brewing CO.

NEWS TO KNOW AND USE – PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS TO WATCH…

AT THE BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY…

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**FREE ADVICE FROM VOLUNTEER LAWYERS IN BIRMINGHAM – ASK AN ATTORNEY this coming Tuesday at West End Library, on June 17 at Avondale Library, July 1 at Salvation Army on 26^th Avenue North, July 15 at Smithfield Library and August 5 at Homewood Library. Volunteer attorney will be on hand 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. to answer your legal questions and provide direction, FREE. No appointment necessary. VLB assists with civil legal matters. For more 205-250-5198 and www.vlbham.org.

FOR KIDS FREE FUN THIS SUMMER…ALL SUMMER LONG…

**KIDS BOWL FREE ALL SUMMER LONG! – Every Day, All Summer Long, Kids Bowl FREE at Spare Time in Trussville! No Cost! Two Free Games Every Day! Family- Friendly Activity!

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**THIS FRIDAY – TRIBUTE TO STEVIE WONDER in The LISTENING ROOM, 7 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3^rd Music Galley. Soak in the smooth melodies and heartfelt performances of BRYON THOMAS and sultry sounds of ECLECTIC SOUL. Food service by Green Acres Café. For more info, jazzison3rd.com.

**THIS SATURDAY – TRIBUTE TO ANITA BAKER in The LISTENING ROOM, 7 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3^rd Music Gallery with unforgettable and captivating sounds from BYRON THOMAS AND ECLECTIC SOUL. Food Service by Green Acres Café. For more info, jazzison3rd.com.

**JUNE 5-8 – STEEL CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL in Linn Park. It starts on Thursday (June 5) in Legion Field with the Line Dance Soiree Party followed by 3 days of non-stop music and entertainment at the Historic Linn Park featuring Anthony Hamilton, Eric Benet, Robert Glasper, Marvin Sapp, Norman Brown, Leela James, Cupid, PLUS Con Funk Shun, Chieli Minucci, Karen Briggs, Lao Tizer, Lin Rountree, Elliott Yamin, Munyungo Jackson, Brian Bromberg, Cheikh N’Dove, Paul Brown, Joel Rosenblatt, ElanTrotman, Eric Marienthal, Kyle Turner, The Ton3S, James “PJ” Spraggins, John “Sax’ Williams and Non Secular, London Koi, James Wesley, Viereck Johann, Allen Pruitt, Jr., and Called II worship, Logan The Entertainer, Michael Alexander Sutton, Tony McNeal and Prodigy featuring Deirdre Gaddis, The ConnectionBand, DJ Chris Coleman, Dj Bad Boy Butch, The Birmingham Community Mass Choir, Grater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Choir and more. For more www.SteelCityJazzfest.org.

**JUNE 7 – FUNKY FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL at Cahaba Brewing Co, FREE with food, music, dancing, vendors, surprise performances. Benefitting AIDS Alabama.

**JUNE 7 – 12^th ANNUAL CARIBBEAN FOOD & MUSIC FESTIVAL Parade, Music, Food and Fun, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. at DeBardeleben Park in Bessemer.

**JUNE 22 – 5^th ANNUAL JAZZ ESSENCE EXPERIENCE, 5 p.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church with Dee Lucas, Jolanda Green, Between 9&7 Band plus financial literacy, real estate and voter registration.

COMING SOON IN JUNE…

IN DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM…

**JUNE 20 – COCO JONES at Iron City.

**JUNE 20 – AN EVENING WITH HEART at the Legacy Arena/BJCC.

**JUNE 24 – DAVE MATTHEWS at the Coca-Cola Amphitheater.

**JUNE 25 – DEF LEPPARD with special guest BRET MICHAELS at the Coca-Cola Amphitheater.

**JUNE 27 – THOMAS RHETT “Better in Boots Tour 2025” with TUCKER WETMORE & THE CASTELLOWS at the Coca-Cola Amphitheater.

**JUNE 28 – JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT with special guest BAND OF HORSES at the Coca-Cola Amphitheater.

FOR FOOD LOVERS…

**COOKING CLASS SERIES with Carver Jones Market and e emeals on Saturdays: June 7, July 12 and August 2, 10:30 a.m. at Urban Hope Café, 4708 Gary Avenue, Fairfield, 35064. Receive a FREE bag of produce from Carver Jones Market with prizes and more. Contact Carver Jones Market for details.

IN IRONDALE…

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CITY OF IRONDALE ON THE NEW LIBRARY!!! (A good place to read the Birmingham Times.)

**TAILS BY THE RAIL AT ELLARD PARK DOG PARK – June 7-Frisbee Fest Field Day, 9 a.m., July 10-Hot Dog Happy hour, 5p.m., August 9-Splash Bash Water Party, 10 a.m., September 9-Paw-Scr Awards Red Carpet, 5 p.m. and October 25-Howl-O-Ween Pup-kin Patch, 10 a.m.

**SCREEN SCENE MOVIES SERIES -THIS FRIDAY/TOMORROW-School Is Out Summer Celebration with WICKED, June 20- THE WILD ROBOT and July 18-MUFASA, THE LION KING. See the movies on Friday nights at Beacon Park with fun and games starting at 7 p.m. Movie begins at Dusk.

**IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has 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.

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

Leaf Blowers and Lawn Safety

Birmingham Times

May 29, 2025

As we come to the close of the lawn care power equipment safety series, there is another lawn service equipment we need to discuss — leaf blowers. There are three safety categories we will review regarding this topic which is personal protective equipment (PPE).

It is important to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying debris. Leaf blowers are noisy so wear earplugs or earmuffs to protect your hearing. Gloves are another PPE that should be worn to provide a secure grip on the blower and protect your hands from any type of debris.

Sturdy boots for a firm stance and good traction especially on uneven surfaces is essential. Other safety protective items include long pants to protect from injuries, face shield (optional) to protect your face and a dust mask to help prevent inhaling dust and debris.

The second safety category is operating procedures. Clearing the area is also important before using the blower. Keep a safe distance (at least 50 feet) from other operators, bystanders and animals. Never point the nozzle or blow debris toward a person, pets, vehicles, or open windows/doors. Use the lowest throttle to avoid unnecessary noise and minimize the risk of blowing debris.

Do not use the leaf blower while under the influences of alcohol, medications, or drugs, or when ill or fatigued. Raise the nozzle away from the ground to avoid dust. Check the wind direction, and consider wetting the area before blowing to minimize dust. Never operate a blower from a ladder, rooftop, or other unstable surface. Also it is not for indoor use.

The last category for safety consideration is the following:

Gasoline vapor – when refueling, allow the engine time to cool and shut off to reduce the risk of burns from escaping gas.

Carbon monoxide – Be aware of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning when using the gasoline-powered blowers indoors or in enclosed spaces.

Never insert foreign objects – Reframe from inserting any object into the air intake or nozzle of the blower.

Avoid working alone – It is best not to work alone and stay within calling distance of others.

Hopefully this safety series will be helpful to Keep an Eye on Safety as you service your lawn this season.

“When the actual USA red, white and blue uniform arrived I knew it was real, and I was super excited and I couldn’t stop smiling. It has my name on it.”

Birmingham Times

May 28, 2025

RAMSAY HIGH SCHOOL’S CAM BLANKENSHIP, ON RECEIVING HIS JERSEY AFTER BEING NAMED TO THE USA STUDENT ATHLETE WORLD BASKETBALL TEAM; BIRMINGHAMTIMES.COM, MAY 28.

City of Birmingham Invites Public to Help Shape its Civil Rights Crossroads Project

Birmingham Times

May 28, 2025

AG Gaston Motel — The Birmingham Civil Rights Crossroads project will create a 3.16-mile urban trail network. (City of Birmingham)

birminghamal.gov

The City of Birmingham will host its Community Studio Week from June 10–14, as part of the Birmingham Civil Rights Crossroads Project, an initiative to reconnect neighborhoods, improve mobility, and honor Birmingham’s Civil Rights legacy.

Residents, business owners, students, and stakeholders from across the Civil Rights District, Smithfield, Graymont, and surrounding areas are invited to share ideas and feedback that will shape the project’s direction.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Crossroads Project, which is funded in part by a $21 million U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE Grant, will deliver 3.16 miles of multimodal improvements—new trails, sidewalks, mobility hubs, and culturally inspired public space enhancements.

The project aims to transform key streets in the city’s historic neighborhoods into spaces that better connect communities while honoring our city’s powerful civil rights legacy. The corridor is focused on 4th and 5th Avenues North, 16th Street North, 6th Street West, and Graymont Avenue. A first for Birmingham, this trail will connect the Red Rock Trail System, the Smithfield Community, and the Civil Rights National Monument Site to the downtown core. Building on the momentum of adding over 40 miles of bike lanes in the past six years, this initiative will introduce new sidewalks and trails to enhance transit, walkability and cycling.

“This project marks another significant step in BDOT’s ongoing transformation of our city’s transportation system into a multimodal network that prioritizes people,” said Christina Argo, deputy director for the Birmingham Department of Transportation. “This visionary project champions the City’s goals of walkable, healthy, and vibrant neighborhoods while deeply honoring our civil rights heritage.”

The Community Studio Week will take place at Legion Field, located at 400 Graymont Ave. West. The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, June 10 | 6–7:30 p.m. Public Kick-Off Meeting Formal presentation, project overview, and interactive engagement
Wednesday, June 11 | 1–6 p.m. Open Design Studio Drop-in hours for one-on-one engagement and feedback
Thursday, June 12 | 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Open Design Studio Continued drop-in sessions and individual engagement
Saturday, June 14 | 8:30–10:30 a.m. Open Design Studio & Report Back Team shares what’s been heard so far—concept sketches, survey input, and data summaries

“This project isn’t just about infrastructure—it’s about honoring legacy, creating opportunity, and investing in communities,” said Bolaji Kukoyi, president of Dynamic Civil Solutions, the project’s lead consultant. “Community Studio Week is the public’s opportunity to directly shape what this transformation looks like.”

Residents are encouraged to take the project survey now to help guide design and programming before the studio week begins. For more information, ongoing updates and to take the survey, visit www.bhmcrossroads.com

Ramsay High’s Cameron Blankenship Named to Represent U.S. in International Basketball

Birmingham Times

May 28, 2025

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

Cameron Blankenship, of Birmingham’s Ramsay High School, has been selected by Student Athlete World to represent the United States in the Pyrenees Basketball Cup and International Sporting Competition in Barcelona, Spain on June 10.

Student-athletes are chosen for the team based on a combination of athletic ability as well as their academics ability and academics, leadership ability and character.

Cameron Blankenship was chosen for the international team based on a combination of athletic ability as well as academics, leadership ability and character. (Provided)

“This is a dream come true,” Blankenship told The Birmingham Times. “I did not know I could do something like this. I’ve watched pro athletes represent the USA and I thought that was so cool. When I was told I had made the top 50 prospects list in December I was happy, and that would have been good enough for me.”

Blankenship, 17, a rising senior at Ramsay, was named recently for the final 11-person roster with players from across the U.S. including Arizona, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

“When I received notice that I had been selected I really was happy,” he said. “But when the actual USA red, white and blue uniform arrived I knew it was real, and I was super excited and I couldn’t stop smiling. It had my name on it. How can you not be excited?”
He added, “We watch our role models and guys we look up to represent the USA. Now I get to be a part of that.”

His father, Birmingham lawyer Lucien Blankenship, said the family is understandably proud.

“We have always taught Cameron the importance of hard work and the rewards that follow,” Lucien said. “He works hard athletically and academically and this is a realization of his dedication on the court. Words can’t express how proud we are of this win because he gets to represent himself, our family, Birmingham and his country.”

‘He Came Home From Work One Day and Said, ‘We’re Getting Married’ Because That’s the Only Day He Had Off’

Birmingham Times

May 28, 2025

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

RONALD & ANNETTE WILSON

Live: Pleasant Grove

Married: March 30, 1981

Met: Early September, 1978, over the phone, through a mutual friend. Ronald was living in Detroit at the time, when his hometown friend, Denise, called him up from Birmingham and said ‘I got somebody I want you to meet’.

“I said that doesn’t make any sense, I live in Detroit, and she lives there… I was trying to figure out how the connection would work,” Ronald recalled. “And Annette was over at Denise’s house at the time so I said, ‘ok, let me talk to her.”

Annette and Ronald talked for ten minutes, exchanged numbers, and finished the conversation when she got home. “I was very interested and I went home and made that long distance phone call…,” Annette said.

Their connection grew quickly and Ronald invited her up for a visit, but Annette was not willing to go alone. “I did not want to go to Detroit because of the riots (she had seen on the news in the aftermath of the 1968 assassination Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), I thought I was going to see people laid all over the streets,” Annette laughed.

On Oct. 7, 1978, Denise accompanied Annette to Detroit to meet Ronald. Upon their arrival, Ronald’s brother and cousin were at the airport to pick them up, and when Annette saw who she thought was Ronald, “I said, ‘oh, girl, if that’s Ronald, I’m staying right here on this plane,” Annette laughed. Fortunately for Annette, it wasn’t Ronald.

Ronald said he was satisfied when he finally saw Annette. “I liked the way she looked, her smile, and her hair. She was wearing a curly natural…”

First date: During her weekend visit, Ronald took her to dinner at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in downtown Detroit. “We went to the Renaissance Center and had a nice time,” Ronald said.

Annette remembers, “I was really shy, and I remember Ronald really liked his food,” she said. “I was laughing at the way he was eating… and I didn’t like my dinner. I ordered this broiled fish and it was huge, coming from the South, I was used to eating fried fish, but the pina coladas were good.”

Ronald said Annette left Detroit hungry “because she wouldn’t really eat in front of me, but the next time she came back she had gotten used to me and was eating all her food and mine,” he laughed.

The turn: “Love just appeared,” Ronald said. “When we weren’t [visiting] each other we were writing love letters, and I remember her telling me she loved me and I told her I loved her, so I knew something was in the making there.” he said.

By the time Ronald visited in December 1978 for Christmas, he was in love. “For Christmas, he bought me a black onyx ring. He bought an onyx ring because he didn’t want me to think he was proposing,“ Annette laughed.

Annette said she took her relationship with Ronald seriously from the get-go, “because he was so no nonsense, and I knew if I was going to spend the rest of my life with anyone it would be him. He was real old school and so sweet. He’s still the same, he hasn’t changed.”

Ronald and Annette Wilson met in September 1978 over the phone while he lived in Detroit and she was in Birmingham. The couple married in 1981. (Provided Photos)

The proposal: March 1980, Annette said Ronald’s proposal was more like a command. “I had been laid off from my job and we were talking about it and he said, ‘you don’t need to get another job there, you need to go on and move out here because we’re getting married anyway,’” said Annette.

“It wasn’t a command I was telling her she could come out to Michigan and get a job just like that. And since we’re gonna get married anyway, she should just come on out,” Ronald said.

Annette moved to Michigan and “when we got back to his apartment I went in the bathroom to wash my hands and he just walked in there and showed me the ring and put it on my finger and hugged me, and I said ‘I’m still waiting to be proposed to,’” Annette said.

“I had called her parents and asked for her hand in marriage, and her daddy said ‘you can have her hand. And I got another daughter here and you can have her hand too,’ and I said, ‘no, that’s OK, I just want Annette’s hand,” Ronald laughed. “And her mama said to make sure I helped her find a new home church because Annette loves church.”

In similar fashion to the proposal, a year later, Ronald declared the date they would marry. “He came home from work one day and said, ‘we’re getting married on March 30 because that’s the only day I have off,” Annette laughed, “and I just said Ok.”

The wedding: At Unity Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, officiated by the late Reverend Valmon D. Stotts. “He was supposed to marry us in his study, but when he opened the door and saw it was me (I was a member of his shepherd’s class) he said, ‘oh no, we’re not going to do this here, let’s go out into the sanctuary,’” Ronald said.

Ronald’s brother, Freeman, stood as his best man, and Annette’s aunt Ruth, and sister-in-law, Dorothy, were there to witness.

“Afterward, we went out to eat at Red Lobster, that was the place to go back then,” said Ronald.

Most memorable for the bride were the butterflies in her stomach and her birthday shopping trip afterward. “We got married on my birthday, so that was a great birthday gift. That’s why we went to the mall after dinner because it was time for me to do some birthday shopping. And the very next day, I went to the secretary of state and got my name changed to Wilson,” Annette reminisced. “The only thing I wished was that my mama or one of my siblings could have been with me, but it was still an awesome day.”

Most memorable for the groom was learning of Ronald Reagan’s assassination attempt during his wedding festivities. “It was all over the TV all evening and all night. And [it was kind of eerie because] my name is Ronald Wilson, and his name was Ronald Wilson Reagan,” Ronald said.

The couple did not honeymoon “but we’re doing a lot of things now that we were not able to do then, and we still have more ‘going’ to do,” said Annette. “Also, as the kids grew up, we were able to take them on vacations too.”

Words of wisdom: “Always keep God centered, and don’t let nothing or nobody come between you and your spouse, and trust me, many have tried and failed over the years. My daddy was a Baptist minister, and when I asked him how he met my mom and how they came to be, he said ‘son, when you’re ready to get married, you pray to God and ask him to send you your wife, and he’ll tailor make one for you…’,” Ronald said. “He told me that it won’t matter [who does or doesn’t like his future wife] because God made her for me. So I’ve always looked at that and kept God in the center. You have to enjoy being with each other. You can’t just love your spouse, you got to like her too. We’re friends too, and I tell her that she always has my unspoken passion.”

“Love is shown,” said Annette. “Ronald doesn’t have to speak it every day, and I don’t either. I know he loves me and he knows I love him. I don’t have to worry about him [when he’s not in my sight], I trust him and I believe him. Treat your spouse the way that you want to be treated. Respect them, love them, and trust them, because trust and respect will take you further than ‘I love you’.”

Happily ever after: The Wilson’s attend Revelation of Faith Christian Church in Hueytown, where Ronald serves as the Chairman of the Deacon Board, and Annette, a deaconess. They have three adult children, ages 46-38: Christopher Williams, and Lauren and Ronald Wilson, and their first grandchild, a baby boy, on the way.

Annette, 67, is a Roosevelt City, Alabama, native, and Wenonah High School grad. Annette retired from PNC Bank after 9 years, and State Farm Insurance, after 15 years as a customer service coordinator and a claims service assistant, respectively. She now works part time for Jefferson County School as a bus aide for special needs children.

Ronald, 70, is a Birmingham native, attended Minor High School, and graduated from Ensley High School. He attended Henry Ford College, in Michigan where he studied business management. Ronald retired from Ford Motor Company, in Dearborn, Michigan in 2003 after 30 years. He and family relocated back to Birmingham in 2003, where he began working for Jefferson County Schools as a paraprofessional, and retired in 2017. He now substitutes for Jefferson County schools part-time.

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

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

Jeffco Commissioner Lashunda Scales Launches Campaign to Become Birmingham Mayor

Birmingham Times

May 27, 2025

Scales 1a — Lasunda Scales is a two-term Jefferson County Commissioner and former Birmingham council member. (FILE)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

Weeks after signs proclaiming “Lashunda Scales for Mayor” appeared in some areas of the city and months after several candidates for Birmingham’s highest elected office declared a run, Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales on Tuesday announced her campaign for the seat.

With three months until the August 26 election Scales joins a race that already includes incumbent mayor Randall Woodfin, who defeated Scales in 2021; State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, longtime activist Kamau Afrika, pastor and non-profit executive Frank Woodson.

“I recognize that 47 percent of my commission district is Birmingham and it’s dying …,” said Scales, from the front porch of an abandoned house in Birmingham’s Collegeville neighborhood. “I know that Birmingham can be a great place, we can go back to being number one, we can go back to having a quality of life, but it’s going to require work, it’s going to require a leader who is going to lead our community in the right direction.”

Scales, a two-term county commissioner and former Birmingham council member, said she is seeking the office of mayor because the city has lost its way.

“We want to make sure that people are aware that help is on the way,” she said. “We’re not talking doom and gloom, but we are talking about facts along with solutions so we can move our city forward in the right direction.”

Scales said she chose the abandoned structure in Collegeville to announce her campaign because blight still plagues the city.

“When I talked about the blight four years ago, I am standing in front of a community that has blocks and blocks of structures that are still in blight,” she said. “I recognize that when our crime rate goes up and our people are leaving, that’s what makes you say listen, ‘I’ve got to be part of the solution and not the problem,’ but I don’t have the power. The mayor has the power. Whoever sits in the seat or office of mayor has the power to be able to fix the city’s problems … so my decision is based upon I haven’t seen any results.”

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