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Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s ‘The Victors Write the Algorithm’ Reframes History

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Birmingham Times
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The BCRI discussion on propaganda, media, and technology, was held in February. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

There’s still time to see the new Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) exhibit that explores how power, propaganda, and technology shape the narratives that ultimately shape how we see the world. “The Victors Write the Algorithm: Power, Propaganda, and the Making of American Memory” is a thought-provoking exploration of how historical memory is often constructed, manipulated, and presented to the public —shaping everything from our understanding of past events to the biases in the media we consume today.

“History is not just about the past — it’s about how the past is remembered and used to inform the present,” says Dr. Vanessa Carter, curator of the exhibit. “The Victors Write the Algorithm asks us to look at the forces that have historically shaped our perceptions of truth — whether in the form of political propaganda, biased media, or even modern-day technology — and to question how those same forces are still influencing the narratives we encounter today.”

The exhibit opened February 6 as part of the BCRI commemoration of Black History Month and is particularly timely as the country marks two major milestones — 100 years of Black History Month and 250 years since the nation’s founding. “The Victors Write the Algorithm” urges viewers to reflect on whose voices are prioritized in the telling of America’s story, and whose are suppressed or erased. By positioning Black history as central to American history, the exhibit challenges the traditional narrative that has long sidelined marginalized communities and invites a deeper reckoning with the ways racial inequities have been woven into the fabric of historical storytelling.

Panelist Nicole S. Daniel, Founder & Executive Editor of The Modern Standard, poses with attendees after the BCRI discussion on propaganda, media, and technology. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

The exhibit dives into the intersection of media bias, propaganda, and the rapid rise of algorithm-driven storytelling in the digital age. From the sweeping influence of social media platforms that tailor the news we see based on our past behaviors, to the subtle yet pervasive ways propaganda has been used to shape public opinion, the exhibit paints a powerful picture of how those in power are often able to dictate the “truth” of any given moment.

In conjunction with the exhibit, the Exhibit Opening Reception held on February 12 featured a Roundtable Discussion on the pressing issues of propaganda, media, and technology. The conversation brought together experts and activists who are reshaping the way we think about history and storytelling in the digital era. The panel featured:

• Deborah Bowie, President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

• Edward Bowser, Deputy Director of Communications, City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office

• Nicole S. Daniel, Founder & Executive Editor of The Modern Standard

• Phillip Howard, Civil Rights People and Places Program Manager at The Conservation Fund

• Cody Short Johnson, Independent Journalist and Content Creator

• Jordan Kiper, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Shauna Stuart, Freelance Journalist and News and Culture Writer

This dynamic group of speakers examined how contemporary media, fueled by algorithms, shapes narratives of power and oppression, and how preserving diverse voices and perspectives is critical in today’s information landscape.

In conjunction with its Victors Write the Algorithm exhibit, BCRI hosted a discussion on propaganda, media, and technology. The panel featured (from left): Phillip Howard, Civil Rights People and Places Program Manager at The Conservation Fund; Cody Short Johnson, Independent Journalist and Content Creator; Jordan Kiper, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; Deborah Bowie, President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; Nicole S. Daniel, Founder & Executive Editor of The Modern Standard; Edward Bowser, Deputy Director of Communications, City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office and Shauna Stuart, Freelance Journalist and News and Culture Writer. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

“Media today is so deeply influenced by algorithms that it’s increasingly difficult to separate truth from bias. ‘The Victors Write the Algorithm’ shines a light on this, showing us how those in power can often dictate what ‘truth’ we see, hear, and believe,” said Deborah Bowie, President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

Shauna Stuart, Freelance Journalist and Culture Writer, said, “It’s not just about the stories we tell today, but how those stories are told and to whom. ‘The Victors Write the Algorithm’ pushes us to think critically about who controls these narratives, and how we can be part of changing them to reflect more diverse, accurate histories.”

Just in time for Women’s History Month, BCRI opened an extension of “The Victors Write the Algorithm” exhibit, titled “Miss Representation.” This installation takes this conversation even further, focusing on the distortion and erasure of women’s stories — particularly the stories of Black women — in media, culture, and public memory. From the early days of newspapers to Hollywood, advertising, and today’s digital feeds, women have long been confined to narrow roles and stereotypes, which impact how they are seen, treated, and valued in society.

“Miss Representation” delves into how these limited portrayals of women shape societal power dynamics, influence policy, and affect everyday life. It challenges us to reconsider who gets to be fully human in the stories we tell. The installation reflects on how media and cultural representations have historically — and continue to — flatten the identities of women, especially Black women, while presenting one-dimensional, often harmful, depictions that limit their visibility and agency.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The exhibit also highlights the growing movements to reclaim these narratives — from the resurgence of Black storytelling in literature, film, and music, to the grassroots efforts of communities using new media tools to amplify voices that have long been silenced. Visitors are encouraged to reflect on how these new narratives can reshape a nation’s collective memory and how each of us can help challenge the established truths of our time.

Both exhibits are on view at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The Victors Write the Algorithm is through March 20, and Miss Representation will be available for viewing through March 28.

The new BCRI exhibit explores how power, propaganda, and technology shape the narratives that ultimately shape how we see the world. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Tears, Testimony and a Call to Act: Birmingham Screening of ‘The Alabama Solution’ Confronts State’s Prison Crisis

By
Birmingham Times
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Tuesday’s screening of ‘The Alabama Solution,’ held in Birmingham at the Carver Theatre, was followed by a panel discussion featuring producer Beth Shelburne and those directly impacted by the system depicted in the film. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | For The Birmingham Times

As the lights came up following a screening of the documentary “The Alabama Solution,” the room was heavy with emotion. In the quiet, some audience members could be heard crying

For many in attendance, it was their first time seeing the film — an unflinching look inside Alabama’s prison system and the violence, neglect and systemic failures that have drawn scrutiny from federal investigators and human rights advocates.

Documentary co-producer Beth Shelburne stepped to the microphone and acknowledged what everyone in the room seemed to be feeling.

“Sometimes it’s nice to just sit for a moment, take a few deep breaths after what we just watched,” Shelburne said. “Raise your hand if that was the first time you’ve seen the film.”

Hands went up across the room.

“Okay, wow,” she said. “So, I know it’s a lot. It’s a whole lot.”

The screening — held in Birmingham at the Carver Theatre and followed by a panel discussion featuring people directly impacted by the system depicted in the film — became more than a movie night. It turned into a deeply personal conversation about incarceration in Alabama and what must change.

The documentary has drawn national attention and is currently nominated for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards. But the screening in Birmingham was not just about watching a film. It was about confronting a crisis that many panelists said the public can no longer ignore.

Shelburne said the project began as reporting years earlier but grew into something far bigger.

“I started covering the prison system when I was a reporter in 2012, and I really felt like I was just shouting into the canyon,” she told the audience. “So, the fact that this film is out in the world and people are talking about it everywhere — that’s progress.”

Even so, she said real change has been slow.

“Progress is really, really slow,” she said. “But part of the progress is actually all of us being here in this room together talking about this.”

The documentary chronicles years of reporting on a prison system that advocates say is overcrowded and dangerous. During the making of the film, Shelburne said researchers documented staggering numbers.

“Fifteen hundred people died during the making of the film,” she said. “We have a database of all of them and what we learned about how and why they died, because the prison system does not publish that.”

‘The Alabama Solution,’ documentary chronicling the horrific conditions inside the state’s prison system, premieres at Sundance and has now been nominated for an Academy Award. (HBO)

The findings paint a grim picture.

“It’s the highest prison mortality rate in the country,” Shelburne said. “Alabama is number one — and not in a good way.”

Several people who appeared in the film joined Shelburne for the discussion, including Danny Dandridge, who was incarcerated during filming.

“This journey started for me while in prison,” Dandridge said. “I was at St. Clair with the brothers who started the movement of the Free Alabama Movement.”

Now home for nearly three years, he said his focus has shifted to rebuilding and helping others do the same.

“I created and started my own nonprofit,” he said. “It’s based on youth development… and I help guys that are coming home from prison. I’m just giving back every day, embracing being home.”

Former correctional officer Stacy George also spoke about what he witnessed during more than a decade working in Alabama prisons.

“I started in 2009 as a correctional officer… and I left in 2022,” he said. “I saw a lot of things.”

He now travels around the state advocating for reforms.

“There are some good officers in there,” he said. “But the bad ones outweigh and dictate a lot of things in the prison.”

Shelburne noted that violence inside prisons should never be normalized.

“There is a way to run prisons where you’re not beating people,” she said. “It should not be expected that that’s part of the experience. It’s certainly not part of the sentence.”

Few voices during the evening carried the emotional weight of Cookie Garner, a Birmingham advocate whose sons have been incarcerated in Alabama prisons.

“I want us to stop calling them inmates,” Garner said. “They are our loved ones.”

Garner described harsh conditions that she said families witness firsthand.

“The only thing that’s mandatory is 23 hours in a cell and one hour of sunlight,” she said. “Most of the time they never get that.”

She also shared the story of her son being violently assaulted while incarcerated.

“He can’t see out of his eye,” she said. “His ribs were bruised, his wrists bruised from the handcuffs. The guard hit him in the eye with a radio.”

Garner said solitary confinement had lasting effects on her son’s mental health.

“Solitary does a number,” she said. “My son was in solitary for a long time.”

Her advocacy now includes pushing for better medical and mental health care inside prisons and changes to sentencing laws.

“My oldest child went to prison at 17,” she said. “He is now 40 years old. So, we have to start changing laws and looking at what’s happening.”

Faith leader Pastor Kris Erskine urged churches and community organizations to take a more active role.

“I’ve been going to a prison every week since 2014,” Erskine said.

He challenged churches to confront the issue directly.

“Ask your congregation how many have been incarcerated or have someone close to them incarcerated,” he said. “Watch their hands go up.”

Erskine said prison outreach should be seen as a moral obligation.

“This is not prison mission — this is prison ministry,” he said.

The panel closed with a call for audience members to turn emotion into advocacy.

Birmingham City Councilor LaTonya Tate urged attendees to support organizations already working on prison reform and to push lawmakers to act.

“Get involved with nonprofit organizations that are doing this work today,” Tate said. “Storytelling is powerful — but you also have to change laws.”

She encouraged the crowd to stay engaged beyond the screening.

“You’ve got to write your legislators,” she said. “You’ve got to organize. You’ve got to put pressure on people.”

Real change, she said, will require citizens to show up and demand it.

“I’m going to charge every person in this room to show up in Montgomery,” Tate said. “Because that’s the only way things are going to change.”

The Alabama Solution is currently available for viewing on HBO Max.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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Comedian Donnell Rawlings at the StarDome Comedy Club, Friday and Saturday. (theparkwaytheater.com)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

HAPPY WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH!! “CELEBRATE THE SHEROS IN YOUR LIFE!!!”

TODAY, MARCH 12…

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

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

**FREE – COSMIC CARE-AOKE NIGHT benefitting ACIJ at Saturn.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd, with Happy Hour 5-6 p.m. FREE. There is a weekly Cash Prize hosted by Loretta Hill.

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

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

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

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

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

**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.

**MILLENIUM GREY at The Nick.

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 13…

IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…

**SOS: THE RECESSION POP PARTY at Saturn.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: COMEDIAN DONNELL RAWLINGS at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: COMEDIAN CP at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**SOUTHSIDE MAB at The Nick.

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

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

**LANDON TALKS – A NIGHT OF STANDUP COMEDY at Avondale Brewing Co.

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 14…

**SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY with SUNDROP at The Nick.

**MUSTACHE ETHE BAND – 90’S COUNTRY PARTY at Avondale.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT:  COMEDIAN DONNELL RAWLINGS at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT:  COMEDIAN CP at the StarDome Comedy Club.

 

SUNDAY, MARCH 15…

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

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

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

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

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

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

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT:  COMEDIAN CP at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**COMEDIAN JAMIE LISSOW at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**ROCK BAND LEAGUE at Saturn.

**ST. PATRICK’s SUNDAY PARTY with HANNAHWARD PASS at Avondale Brewing Co.

 

MONDAY, MARCH 16…

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

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

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

**MONDAYS – DEMENTIA CAREGIVER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP, 3 p.m. and/or Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Call 205-278-7113 for more info.

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at The Nick.

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 17…

**Music Program with DJ DOUG at the Irondale Senior Activity Center

**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 2ND TUESDAY at The Nick.

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

**THE BLOB (1988) FREE SHOW at Saturn.

 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18…

**REVOLUTIONARY ALABAMIANS ”PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE”, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the Electra Room at Vulcan Park and Museum.

PANEL DISCUSSION.

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

**HOWLING GIANT, INSOMNIAC with HIRAETH at Saturn.

**WHISKEY + NOVUM + DRIFT SEEKER at The Nick.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: ZACH RUSHING at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**FREE – TV BUDDHA at Saturn.

 

NEXT THURSDAY, MARCH 19 …

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

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

**FREE – GOOD FLYING BIRDS with TOUCH GIRL APPLE BLOSSOM, CASH LANGDON, FROWNLINES at Saturn.

**KARAOKE KICKBACK EVERY THURSDAY, 6 – 9 p.m. at Jazzi’s on 3rd, with Happy Hour 5-6 p.m. FREE. There is a weekly Cash Prize hosted by Loretta Hill.

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

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

**STEVIE TOMBSTONE with the EXLAWS at The Nick.

 

NEXT FRIDAY, MARCH 20….

**FISH FRY FRIDAY at Lil Mama’s, 1200 Hall Avenue EVERY FRIDAY 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

**COMEDIAN SPECIAL EVENT: TOMMY DAVIDSON at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**ALFRED BANKS featuring PACO & SAYGO, SOUNDS BY ISH at The Nick.

**LATE NIGHT with QDOT + JAXXXON + FRIENDS at The Nick.

**SISTER HAZEL with HIGHWAY HOME at Avondale Brewing Co.

**HEATED RIVALRY NIGHT at Saturn.

 

NEWS TO KNOW

CELEBRATE THE SHEROES IN YOUR LIFE – Across the Americas, Caribbean and beyond, women have fought for freedom, championed culture and redefined leadership. During Women’s History, we honor the freedom fighters who stood against colonial rule, the heads of state who navigated their nations through global shifts and the visionary diplomats advocating for climate justice on the world stage. From entertainers to pioneering educators and scientists shaping the next generation, their influence is woven into the fabric of our history.  This month, we honor their legacy and celebrate the women continuing to break new ground.

 

AROUND BIRMINGHAM…

**SATURDAY – FABRICS OF OUR LIVES at Woodlawn Theatre, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. is a part of THE VIEW FROM HERE Series rooted in perspective, identity, culture and place by Bare Hands partnership with the BCRI funded by a City of Birmingham Community Arts Grant with support from Woodlawn Theatre. It invites people to share their own stories and hear the stories of others. “Fabrics of Our lives” focuses on each of us creating art in the company of community. Get inspiration for projects to create in the future. Take your t-shirt that you would like to turn into a pillow and an item you would like to mend with visible stitches for a T-Shirt Pillow and Visible Mending workshop stations.  Featured are DARLENA KING (T-Shirt Pillows and 9-Square Pillows, VERO VANBLAARE (Sock Buddies), WILHELMINA THOMAS (Visible Mending and Story Quit Blocks), JULIE CARPENTER (Embossed Aluminum Decorations from Aluminum Cans) and BRIANNA PAYNE (Small Hands Corner – Children’s Community Tapestry. This is FREE intergenerational community Arts da of making art from everyday items with local artists.

**MARCH 17 – ST. PATRICK’S DAY DISH GARDENS, 10-11:30 a.m. with ALLISON CREEL of Blue Rooster Farms at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

**MARCH 19, 20 and 21 – THE VOICES OF DONNY HATHAWAY at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a 2:30 p.m. show on Sunday.

**MARCH 28 – THE NEW EDITION WAY TOUR 2026 with NEW EDITION, BOYZ II MEN, TONI BRAXTON is coming to Birmingham.

 

FOR FILM LOVERS

**THE ALABAMA SOLUTION A HBO OSCAR AWARD NOMINATED DOCUMENTARY is a MUST SEE when you can. Look for more it on HBO.

 

AT SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL

**TODAY – THURSDAY MATINEE -THE BRIDE, 2 p.m.

**TODAY – THURSDAY MATINEE – 2026 OSCAR NOMINATED SHORTS, 2:30 p.m.

**TODAY – BETTLE JUICE, 6 p.m. Student Night.

**TODAY – DIVAS – Honoring Women’s History Month inspired by DIVAS Concert Series. FREE

**FRIDAY – BAD MOVIE NIGHT. FREE

**SUNDAY – HOLLYWOOD AWARDS WATCH PARTY. FREE

  

FOR OUR YOUTH

**MAGIC CITY YOUTHBUILD is accepting applications from 16-24 year s old.  It is a 6 to 9 month program. Youth can earn their GED.  They get paid a biweekly stipend and get training in construction and healthcare careers.  Contact youthbuild@habd.net or call 205-983-7550 to learn more.

**ROTARY CLUB OF BIRMINGHAM FOUNDATION for Seniors graduating in the Spring. Application Deadline is Sunday, March 15.

**MARCH 23-27 – 5TH ANNUAL DUNDRILL HEIGHTS SPRING BREAK FILM CAMP, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the YMCA Youth Center (Downtown), 2400 Seventh Avenue North. For more info, CALL 205-370-7805 or go to CinematicCreations.agency.

**ANYTOWN ALABAMA TEEN LEADERSHIP SUMMIT has a deadline of Sunday. Anytown Alabama will be June 7-13, 2026.

**BRAIN READ YOUTH STUDY – UAB is looking for children diagnosed with autism ages 7 – 13 to participate in an MRI study at UAB that includes a complimentary 10-week intervention for improving reading comprehension. The child gets to participant in an intensive intervention program at no cost, which may improve their comprehension. You will also help to learn more about how children understand what they read.  Children will be paid up to $250 for their participation.

For more contact The Cognition, Brain and Autism Lab at 205-202-0616.

**KIDS SUMMER CAMP, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., starts June 8 – 20 and July 6 -24. Centers for Summer Camp are Central Park Ensley, East Pinson Valley, Fountain Heights, Don Hawkins, Inglenook, M.L. King, McAlpine, Memorial, North Birmingham and Roosevelt.  Call 205-254-2391 for more.

**RAISING ROYALTY BHM is Accepting New Members at Southside Police Precinct, 1320 19th Street South EVERY 3rd Saturday of each month, 3-5 p.m.  Contact Regina at 205-396-7010

**AFTER SCHOOL ART STUDIO CLASSES – CITY CENTER ART is Space One Eleven’s after school program designed to help your artists in grades 2 – 12 build visual communication skills, foster creative thinking and have fun making art. For more or to register, visit at SpaceOneEleven.org

**SMALL MAGIC – BIRMINGHAM TALKS – This program is committed to making Birmingham the best place to raise a child under age 5. It is designed to support early literacy, helping children become three times more likely to be ready for kindergarten. The program provides families with a wearable word counter – technology typically only available to high-income households – along with books, educational toys and the support of a personal coach to help track progress and set developmental goals.

**RENEW BIRMINGHAM – Services that are provided include: housing, adult education/work force development, transportation, jobs, youth services/education, community health and wellness. Call 205-201-4275 or visit www renewbhm.org. Email admin@renewbham.org. Address is 1801 Avenue H, Birmingham 1801 Avenue H.

 

COMING SOON

**MARCH 29 – SPRING FESTIVAL at Railroad Park, 1 – 4 p.m. for families with food and laughter.  There will food trucks, Easter eggs, photos with the Easter bunny, music and more.  Take your basket.

**APRIL 29 – MAY 3 – BLUES TRAVELER BAND TO PERFORM AT THE REGIONS TRADITIONS – Get Ready to Rock on May 2 with the Blues Traveler on Hole 10 at the White Claw Watering Hole. The Regions Tradition Golf Tournament is April 29 – May 3 at the Greystone Golf & Country Club.

 

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.

“Seeing young leaders like Jourdin Crawford pour back into the same community that raised them is incredibly inspiring.”

By
Birmingham Times
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CRYSTAL SMITHERMAN, BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCILOR  ON THE GREEDY HOUSE, A COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER IN THE FORMER MODERN HOUSE COFFEE HOUSE IN NORTH TITUSVILLE; BHAM NOW, MARCH 8.

Birmingham City Council Approves Multiyear Plans for HBCU Sporting Events

By
Birmingham Times
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Quarterback Shedeur Sanders leads Jackson State University against host Alabama State University in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest. (File)

By Sarah Whites-Koditschek | swhites-koditschek@al.com

Birmingham leaders agreed to host multiple college sporting events involving Historically Black Colleges and Universities over the next two years.

The city approved plans for two SWAC football games at Legion Field during a city council meeting Tuesday. The first game will be held on Aug. 26. Another game will be held in 2027.

“Any time we can get heads in beds in our hotels, people eating in our restaurants, or shopping at our businesses, it’s an economic win that we can keep stacking,” Councilor Hunter Williams said in a city press release.

The city also agreed to host the 2027 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championship at the CrossPlex.

The Southwestern Athletic Conference is made up of historically Black colleges and universities. In 2022, Birmingham signed a three-year agreement with SWAC to create the SWAC Classic.

That year, Jackson State University played against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In 2023 and 2024 Jackson State took on Southern University.

The city signed a contract for those three years to pay up to $300,000 per year to the league.

Deborah Bowie Comes Full Circle as New CEO at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

By
Birmingham Times
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Deborah Bowie was recently named President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI). (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

Deborah Bowie has returned home. And you can hear it in her voice.

“For the 14 years that I’ve been gone,” she said, “my tribe is actually in Birmingham, even though I’m a Florida girl. Birmingham is my home.”

Bowie was recently named President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI).

She studied in New Orleans at Xavier University and came to Birmingham in 1993 — a move that would alter the course of her life. “I feel like that’s (Birmingham) where most of my career [was built]. I mean, I feel like I grew up professionally in Birmingham,” Bowie said.

She spent nearly two decades in the city — working in news, serving as a public information officer for the city council, leading at the Chamber of Commerce, and eventually becoming chief of staff to former Mayor Larry Langford.

“That was the best job I’ve ever had,” she said. “I learned so much … It put like a fire under our team to make sure that Mayor Langford’s big vision projects actually came to fruition.”

That fire — a refusal to back down from hard work, hard truths, or hard fights — has defined her career ever since. And that’s some of what she plans to bring to the BCRI. Bowie steps into leadership at a critical time for the institute.

The building — owned by the city since 1992 — faces infrastructure challenges. Exhibits have not been significantly updated since 2009. Staff reductions have thinned capacity. Archives hold untold stories waiting to be preserved.

But Bowie sees opportunity. “We don’t have any new exhibits,” she said. “That means Black Lives Matter is nowhere in the institute. And it should be.”

She envisions updated technology, new galleries, AI-enhanced experiences, expanded programming, revitalized fundraising, and a renewed commitment to truth-telling.

She’s especially proud of the Institute’s nearly 20-year-old Youth Legacy Leadership Program. “It’s probably the best thing the institute has ever done,” she said. “The world needs more people versed in the history, not less.”

She is equally passionate about the archives — and capturing oral histories before they are lost.

“How many people like that exist in Birmingham whose stories?” she asked after meeting a former prosecutor who had never been asked to record his history. “Tons.”

A Fighter’s Heart

Bowie, 56, has never been one to back down, but she doesn’t see herself as combative. She sees herself as committed. “One thing I know about me is, one, I am a fighter. I don’t bow down for anything. I’m not afraid of anything. I’m actually more committed to the work now.”

Her passion for advocacy is personal.

She is the daughter of an interracial marriage. Her Jewish mother was disowned for marrying a Black man. Bowie and her sister grew up isolated, navigating rejection and instability. Later, Bowie’s sister was murdered in a home invasion — a tragedy that pulled her into courtrooms for decades.

“I have never doubted myself,” she said. “I’ve always realized that there wasn’t anything wrong with me. There might be something wrong with the rest of the world.”

That perspective shaped her professional throughline: advocating for marginalized communities. Whether leading immigrant policy initiatives, running the United Way of North Central Florida, serving as interim city manager during a pandemic in Gainesville, Florida, or heading a foundation created after a mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, her work consistently centered access, inclusion, and dignity.

“All the work that I have really ever done… has been about advocating for people who are marginalized, who don’t have resources,” she said. “They all connect. I’ve just been in different roles.”

Debra Bowie was recently named President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI). (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Preserving The Institution

They all connected and seemed to lead back to the Magic City.

Even while living in Georgia and Florida, Bowie found herself constantly talking about Birmingham.

“To the point where my colleagues and friends would say, you know, you talk about Birmingham all the time.”

She stayed connected to friends. To mentors. To the spirit of the place. “I realized… Birmingham was my chosen family,” she said.

Birmingham also represents something rare, said the CEO.

“I don’t know of a place I’ve ever lived where people would say, ‘I’m willing to be bitten by a dog or hosed or thrown in jail before I let you treat me like dirt.’”

She pauses when she says this, as if weighing the present against the past.

“If this is not the time to stand 10 toes down, then I don’t know what is. I don’t think it’s been a time since 63 years ago where we are right now, where you must be in the space. You must preserve the institution itself. You must preserve the memory. You must preserve the history. And you must teach it to the next generation — and it needs to be based on truth.”

She adds, without hesitation: “I am in no way discouraged… I think this is the gasoline that we needed to wake people up to how important it is to advocate, stand up, and preserve and enshrine the work of the institute.”

“Hit The Ground Running”

Bowie is returning to Birmingham with her children — triplets Ryanne, Cloud, and Raymond, who are high school seniors, and her eldest daughter Alexis, a board-certified behavior analyst.

“I feel like Birmingham was a place where I grew up. It’s where I came into my identity in terms of who I am and what I believe in.”

Fifteen years ago, she says, she wouldn’t have been ready to lead the Institute.

“I can tell you based on everything that I’ve been through since — I wasn’t ready. I feel like all these other experiences have really prepared me.”

Now, she feels uniquely positioned to bridge business, higher education, civic leadership, and community voices.

“I just feel like I’m in a unique position to bring back all of that experience … I feel like I could hit the ground running. And I am.”

Birmingham City Council Approves Plan to Expand Access to Childcare

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Birmingham Times
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The Reinvest initiative focusing on childcare is helping with the city’s Cradle to Career framework, which focuses on setting up children for success in Birmingham. (Adobe Stock)

By Gillian Brooks | WBRC

The Birmingham City Council has approved a federal funding package aimed at expanding childcare access and workforce development in four city neighborhoods: North Birmingham, Northside, Pratt and Smithfield.

The Reinvest initiative is helping with the city’s Cradle to Career framework, which focuses on setting up children for success in Birmingham. The initiative is aimed at helping four of the city’s neighborhoods and focuses on affordable childcare as one of five components.

Childcare Resources is partnering with the city to strengthen the quality and availability of childcare in those areas. Joan Wright, executive director of Childcare Resources, said access to childcare is tied to workforce participation.

“One barrier to workforce participation is often childcare, ” Wright said.

Wright said improving childcare quality has broader benefits for families.

“When we can make childcare high quality, it increases the availability of childcare and gives families that peace of mind that their child is being attended to,” Wright said.

The Reinvest initiative will also fund training for childcare workers. The city is working with the YMCA to create a Childcare Center of Excellence in the Smithfield area, which will create 100 new childcare spots.

Wright said the Smithfield program will also serve as a hub for provider development.

“In the Smithfield area, we’re going to have a unique childcare program that’s also going to offer training and assistance opportunities right there on site for providers.” Wright explained. “So, not only will we be staffing that center but encouraging people to open other centers across the city.”

Archie Stewart, Reinvest Plan Officer for the City of Birmingham, said the grant covers five components, with childcare as one piece.

“The grant is actually 5-fold, it’s five different components, childcare just happens to be one piece of it. I just really really hope the residents know they are being heard,” Stewart said.

The other components of the Reinvest initiative include transportation, small business and workforce development.

‘They All Knew I Was Going to Be Proposing, But She Had No Idea’

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Birmingham Times
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CORETTA & FLOYD COLLINS

By Mia Watkins | For The Birmingham Times

Live: Pelham

Married: Oct. 4, 2003

Met: Floyd Collins knew that Coretta would be his wife as a matter of science, much like the lessons they were learning in the science summer program at Alabama A&M University, where they met when they were 7th graders. Floyd, a Uniontown native, was there with his older brother, who was a student. Coretta, who hails from Wetumpka, was there with her uncle, who was a dean at the school.

“We were in a summer program that was sponsored by the National Science Foundation at Alabama A&M University. That’s where we first met,” said Floyd. “I sat behind her in the program. She had on Elizabeth Taylor Red. I smelled it, and before the program ended, I told her that she was going to be my wife. I just knew.”

The two exchanged letters and stayed in touch after they parted ways to return to their hometowns.

“We stayed friends, but these were the days of limited cellphones,” Coretta recalled. “It was like free after 9 p.m., or you would call and hang up before the minutes kicked in. We wrote like real letters.”

“They’re still at my mom’s house in a combination box,” said Floyd. “I remember when my brother found them, and I wanted to beat him up because he was reading them out loud.”

The two reunited in the same program in 9th grade. Then they both went to Alabama A&M for college, all the while staying just friends. That changed their junior year.

The turn: “Before we came to college, he had a girlfriend,” Coretta said. “When we got to college, I had a boyfriend and [Floyd] was a player. Junior year, he decided that he wanted to make his wishes truly known.”

Floyd has his own version of events.

“In the spring of 2001, we both are pledging our fraternity and sorority (Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.) She was crossing Delta that year.  I go to the bookstore, and I buy absolutely everything Delta I could possibly find. She crosses, and she is there taking pictures with her boyfriend, whom I did not know about. I literally take everything back to the store, and I remember hanging out with my best friend, who was in our wedding, to get over it. Then, I approached her in total disbelief.”

“Then he finally maned up and said something,” Coretta said with a laugh. “I felt bad that I needed to break up with my boyfriend. He was a nice person, but that wasn’t where my heart was. I needed a little oomph to help me get over that hump. I had to call my mama and confide in her. She basically said I was going to have to do it, and that there was no way around it. She told me, ‘It’s going to hurt, but it will get better.’”

Their relationship became serious almost immediately after making it official.

“You’ve got to remember that we were already friends,” Coretta said. “I had met his parents before, and he had met my parents. So, we knew. My best friends, cousins and line sisters were all Team Floyd.”

“All our friends were actually in the wedding,” Floyd added.

Coretta and Floyd Collins met in seventh grade during a summer program at Alabama A&M University. The couple married in 2003. (Provided)

The proposal: Floyd proposed to Coretta right after they graduated from Alabama A&M.

“We graduated on campus, and then we transitioned back to my apartment here in Birmingham, and all of the family was there,” he said. “They all knew I was going to be proposing, but she had no idea.”

“We were all gathered together, and she was in the bedroom and came out,” he continued. “She was standing between the den and the bedroom, and I remember getting down on one knee, proposing and telling her that she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. She was crying and couldn’t get it out. She was choked up, and I got a little nervous.”

“I was so shocked,” she said. “He got me really good. We knew we were getting married, but I didn’t know he was going to propose that day. Of course, I said yes through my tears. Then I looked around like, ‘all of y’all knew about this?’”

The wedding: The two exchanged vows five months after Floyd proposed at Coretta’s home church, Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion Church, in Wetumpka. It was the day after Floyd’s birthday. The wedding colors were her favorites: Victorian lilac, silver and white. The couple’s pastors, Rev. Anthony Trimble and Rev. Ron Burroughs, and the bride’s uncle, Rev. Claude Shuford, officiated the ceremony.

Floyd said one of his most memorable moments involved his uncle, Earl.

“So, you look out in the audience because you’re facing them,” he recalled fondly. “I just remember how he was crying harder than anyone else in the church, to the point where I got nervous, like, should I be crying that hard? I just remember him just being so full of emotion. It was just a happy day. It almost felt like it was a halo over the church. Reflecting back on it, that’s how nice the day was. The weather was great. All the family was there.”

He also remembers his best friend, Marty, bringing levity to the occasion through jokes.

“My friends were making fun of me, saying that now that I’m married, all I was going to be able to do was sit in the house and play PlayStation. When we were taking our pictures, Marty would count them down by saying, ‘One, two, three, PlayStation!”

“I remember walking in with my dad escorting me,” Coretta recalled. “I would start tearing up when I looked down the aisle and saw Floyd. My dad was trying to make jokes to keep me from crying, but it did not work.”

Floyd, like Uncle Earl, was moved to tears as he watched Coretta make her way down the aisle.

“It was just happiness,” he said. “It’s what you actually prayed for, and it’s actually happening in that moment. I remember being in my apartment, praying for a wife and praying that it was her. Then, it actually happened. That level of emotion in that moment is like, wow, your dreams are coming true. That’s a rare space to be in. It’s pretty special.”

Coretta remembers the first time the couple got a moment alone after the ceremony.

“The day, of course, had been like a whirlwind,” she said. That was the first moment we had to ourselves. It was kind of like a sigh of relief.”

The honeymoon: The two vacationed in Negril, Jamaica, at the Sandals resort, but that wasn’t without its hiccups.

“We get to the airport, and I don’t have my birth certificate,” Floyd said. “I called my dad because they had to reschedule our flight in Atlanta. We had to drive back from Atlanta, and he met us at a gas station and brought me my birth certificate. It was crazy, but Sandals was super accommodating. We had a great time. We loved it.”

Words of wisdom: “My words of advice are stay in the arena,” said Floyd. “What I mean by that is, it’s hard. Life threw us a bunch of curveballs. We lost a child at 36 weeks. Her mom, who was a big supporter, Coretta lost her to ovarian cancer. We have experienced a lot of life challenges. You’ve just got to stay in the arena and be there for each other. I think that’s what made our marriage so strong, all the obstacles and all the challenges. We leaned on each other to get through a lot of stuff.”

“You’ve got to keep the intention and follow through with it, even when the obstacles come,” Coretta added. “Remember, at the core, it’s an us. Nobody’s going to nurture us like us. We often joke about something we heard in reference to the Obamas: We’re the president. It’s us together. We also try to remember that even with three very active kids, it’s still us. They take a lot of our time and resources, but at the end of the day, when they’re grown and living for themselves, it’s still us. We still want to be connected. Even now, sometimes we’ll lose ourselves when we’re having date night. We’ll find ourselves talking about them and the schedule. We try to figure out what we can do to put the intention and focus back on us and get to know us again.”

They say that they’re proud to serve as an example of longevity to their children.

“I think it’s cool too now because our oldest is a freshman in high school, and he’s dating,” Floyd said. “He always asks questions about how I knew she was the one. He sees how we interact with each other. I think it’s cool to serve as a positive role model in the house of what a healthy relationship looks like.”

Happily ever after: Coretta and Floyd are parents to three children: 14-year-old Floyd Jr., 13-year-old Charleston and 9-year-old Savannah. They attend St. John AME Church in downtown Birmingham. Coretta is a hematology and oncology nurse practitioner at UAB. Floyd serves as the assistant superintendent for Pelham City Schools.

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

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

American Spiritual Ensemble to Perform at Samford University

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Birmingham Times
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Under Everett McCorvey’s leadership, the American Spiritual Ensemble has also built an impressive discography, releasing twelve albums. (Provided)

Special to The Times

On Tuesday, March 17, audiences in Birmingham will have the chance to experience a powerful musical tradition when the American Spiritual Ensemble takes the stage at Jane Hollock Brock Recital Hall on the campus of Samford University.

The 7:30 p.m. performance celebrates the enduring legacy of the American Negro spiritual, a musical form born out of the experiences of enslaved Africans in the United States and one that continues to shape American culture and classical music today.

Presented by Davis Architects, the Birmingham Chamber Music Society, and Samford’s School of the Arts, the concert will highlight the ensemble’s mission of preserving and sharing spirituals through powerful live performances and educational outreach.

Founded in 1995 by Everett McCorvey, the American Spiritual Ensemble was created to honor and sustain the music pioneered by enslaved African people. Over the past three decades, the critically acclaimed group has performed around the world, presenting concerts that celebrate the emotional depth, history and artistry of the spiritual.

Today, the ensemble remains the only professional group of its kind dedicated solely to performing the American Negro spiritual. Through concerts, recordings and educational programs, and with a repertoire that ranges from spirituals to classical to Broadway and dance, the ensemble works to ensure the tradition continues to resonate with new generations.

In addition to its global performances, the ensemble frequently visits schools and universities to teach students about the history and cultural significance of spirituals. Members present master classes, lectures, radio and television appearances, and interviews that explore how these songs emerged from hardship and faith to become a foundational element of American music.

Everett McCorvey, a Montgomery native and a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he earned a Doctorate in Musical Arts. (Provided)

Everett McCorvey

At the center of the organization is Everett McCorvey, a Montgomery native and a graduate of the University of Alabama, where he earned a Doctorate in Musical Arts. McCorvey has performed on some of the most prestigious stages in the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall, Teatro Comunale and Queen Elizabeth Hall. His performances have taken him to audiences in more than 23 countries.

His career spans nearly every corner of the performing arts world. Beyond his work as a performer, McCorvey has built a distinguished career as a musical director, stage director, voice teacher, producer, impresario and orchestra conductor. He currently serves as conductor and artistic director of the National Chorale and Orchestra of New York City and was recently appointed inaugural principal guest conductor at Opera Columbus.

McCorvey is also deeply involved in arts leadership and advocacy, serving as a union representative, administrator, and mentor. In Kentucky, where he currently lives, he serves as chairman of the Kentucky Arts Council, and nationally, he contributes as an advisory panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts. He also sits on the board of the Sullivan Foundation of New York, which supports emerging opera singers as they launch their professional careers.

Under McCorvey’s leadership, the American Spiritual Ensemble has also built an impressive discography, releasing twelve albums that showcase the beauty and resilience of spiritual music.

The March 17 performance at Samford offers Birmingham audiences a chance to hear that tradition brought vividly to life through voices dedicated to preserving one of America’s most profound musical legacies.

Event Details
American Spiritual Ensemble
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Jane Hollock Brock Recital Hall
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, Alabama

Tickets are available at: www.samford.edu/arts/events/American-Spiritual-Ensemble

Under Pressure, Gov. Kay Ivey Commutes Charles ‘Sonny’ Burton’s Death Sentence

By
Birmingham Times
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Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday commuted the death sentence of Charles “Sonny” Burton, 75. (Alabama Department of Corrections)

Compiled From Wire Reports

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday commuted the death sentence of a 75-year-old inmate who was set to be executed this week, even though he was not in the building when the victim was killed.

Gov. Kay Ivey

Ivey reduced Charles “Sonny” Burton’s sentence to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Burton was sentenced to death for the shooting death of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery.

However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building.

The shooter’s death sentence was later reduced on appeal to life imprisonment.

“I cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton under such disparate circumstances. I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed while the participant who pulled the trigger was not,” the Republican governor said in a statement.

The decision follows growing public pressure over Burton’s planned execution.

Protestors gathered outside the governor’s mansion in Montgomery on Monday to urge Ivey to spare Burton’s life. A petition with 67,000 signatures to halt the execution was also delivered to Ivey’s office.

Battle’s daughter, Tori Battle, had publicly said she did not want to see Burton’s death sentence carried out.

A clemency petition said six of the eight living jurors from the 1992 trial did not oppose commutation, and three actively urged that Burton’s sentence be reduced.

Burton had previously sought clemency from Ivey. As late as Friday, her office said “at this time, as previously noted, Governor Ivey has no plans to grant clemency,” underscoring how recently the decision changed.

“A jury convicted Mr. Burton of capital murder and unanimously recommended a sentence of death. Over the past 33 years, his conviction and sentence has been reviewed at least nine times, and no court has found any reason to overturn the jury’s decision,” Gina Maiola, Gov. Ivey’s communications director, said Friday.

People gather outside the Alabama Governor’s Mansion in Montgomery, Ala., on Feb. 16, 2026, to urge Gov. Kay Ivey to grant clemency to Sonny Burton. (Associated Press)

Ivey granted the commutation after she spoke with a representative of Battle’s family, which is required by law, as well as Alabama Attorney General Steven Marshall, who also supported Burton’s execution.

In a letter to Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm, Ivey said she supports capital punishment but argued it must be applied consistently.

“I firmly believe that the death penalty is just punishment for society’s most heinous offenders, as shown by the 25 executions I have presided over as governor,” Ivey wrote.

“In order to ensure the continued viability of the death penalty, however, I also believe that a government’s most consequential action must be administered fairly and proportionately.”

Ivey noted that Derrick DeBruce, who was convicted of pulling the trigger in Battle’s killing, is serving life without parole.

DeBruce was originally given the death penalty, as well, but later saw it commuted.

“Charles Burton did not shoot the victim, did not direct the triggerman to shoot the victim and had already left the store by the time the shooting occurred,” Ivey’s letter said. “Yet Mr. Burton was set to be executed while DeBruce was allowed to live out his life in prison.”
Ivey emphasized that the commutation does not lessen Burton’s responsibility.

“To be clear, Mr. Burton will not be eligible for parole and will rightfully spend the remainder of his life behind bars for his role in the robbery that led to the murder of Doug Battle,” she wrote. “He will now receive the same punishment as the triggerman.”

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