WE SHOWED THE WORLD WHAT BIRMINGHAM IS TODAY
Today’s guest columnist is Maury Shevin.
Birmingham has done it!
After decades of stagnation and missteps, Birmingham continues to make decisions? that prove to the world that we are not? the Birmingham of old.
Birmingham has lived with an inferiority complex for a long time.
Ever since the coal, iron and steel barons refused to move down from Pittsburgh, and instead took a train weekly down to their “colony” in Birmingham; ever since the powers-that-be in Montgomery refused to allow Birmingham self-rule; ever since Bull Conner punished Delta Airlines for wanting to integrate a plane terminal and drove Delta to Atlanta; and ever since the powers-that-be in Birmingham refused to desegregate and instead closed—well—everything; we have had an inferiority complex.? Sure, we have had some serious winners—UAB, the Bruno family, and others—but these have too often been the exception rather than the rule.
Yes, we have had a serious inferiority complex.
However…depending upon how you measure time, the “Birmingham complex” has been waning.? I’ve written about our progress before. Whether one credits the overcoming of our “troubles” to the revitalization of Parkside, Woodlawn, the City Center or Avondale, there is no denying our accomplishments.
And, June 20, 2024, when Major League Baseball came to Rickwood Field, will for me, forever be the point in time when Birmingham put the nail in the Birmingham complex coffin.
MLB at Rickwood Field, celebrated the contribution to baseball of the Negro Leagues.? It was a truly stellar event.? It could not have been better—from the logistics, the revitalization of Rickwood Field, the national TV audience, the appearance of scores of celebrities, the attendance of former Negro Leagues players and the absolutely incredibly cooperative June weather—well, it was a magical evening.
The entire week leading up to the game including the dedication of the Willie Mays Mural at 18th Street & 1st Avenue North, that coincided with celebrating the life and death of Mays, made for a glorious time in Birmingham.
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But understand. This week was so much more than about a baseball game. It was a reckoning with our history. It was a welcoming of the Negro Leagues into the MLB family—yes it came late—but it came; and it came in Birmingham, Alabama.? The old Birmingham and Alabama paradigm of “you will have to make me,” was put to rest on June 20th.? Birmingham and its rich baseball tradition, extended the warmest of welcomes to the Negro Leagues into the MLB family.? And, we did it on a national stage. And, we didn’t miss a step.
To say that I am proud of Birmingham is an understatement. I am proud for our people. I am proud for the foresight of our leadership. And, I am proud for our ex-patriots—who stood up throughout the country to be recognized as proudly being from Birmingham.
Birmingham is building on its successes—in a measured way—not in an Atlanta, Georgia way. As our friend Bill Smith, founder of Shipt and Landing, is fond of saying, “Birmingham is big enough to matter, but not so big that you don’t matter.” MLB at Rickwood Field showed the country what Birmingham is today.
And, let’s admit it: We are all looking for a little good news these days.
Maury Shevin—passionate about the City of Birmingham–lives, works, thinks and plays on Birmingham’s Southside.
David Sher is the founder and publisher of?ComebackTown.? He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).
Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. [email protected].
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