GRASPED AT OPPORTUNITY TO THE IMPACT OF THE CARVER THEATER. IT WAS A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD FORGET ABOUT THEIR TROUBLES. THE FOURTH AVENUE BUSINESS DISTRICT AND CIVIL RIGHTS DISTRICT HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM, AND GROWING BUSINESS REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT. GANTT FOR THE AREA. I WANTED SOMETHING THAT REALLY, IN COMPASSED NOT ONLY THE PAST, BUT WHERE WE’RE GOING TONIGHT. PROJECT COMMUNITY PRESERVING THE PAST TRANSFER FORMING THE FUTURE. THANK. YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. I’M JARVIS ROBERTSON AND I’M MAGDALA LOUISSAINT. TONIGHT A LOOK AT TWO HISTORIC DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS. NOT ONLY HOW FAR THEY’VE COME, BUT THEIR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. I WANT PEOPLE WHEN THEY VISIT BIRMINGHAM TO BE ABLE TO SEE A FLOURISHING AGING BUSINESS DISTRICT, A FLOURISHING SET OF ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO TELL THE STORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WHERE WE CAN BE IN THE FUTURE. IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE THE HISTORIC FOURTH AVENUE BUSINESS DISTRICT WAS TAPPED FOR A STATEWIDE REVITALIZATION EFFORT. YEAH, THE WORK TO GET IT, IT WAS SPEARHEADED BY URBAN IMPACT, WHICH MANAGED THE SPECIFIC AREA WVTM13’S GLADYS BAUTISTA TAKES US THERE AND EXPLAINS THE VISION. THOSE FAMILIAR WITH THE DISTRICT’S PAST HAVE FOR ITS FUTURE. IT’S HARD TO FORGET YOU’RE STANDING ON THE HEELS OF HISTORY AND THE HISTORIC FOURTH AVENUE NORTH BUSINESS DISTRICT. ALL OF THESE MARKERS TELL A STORY OF PERSEVERANCE AND COMMUNITY. BUT IF YOU WANT TO FIND A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO IT ALL, THEY WANT TO FIND GREEN ACRES. GREG GRATTON IS THE SECOND GENERATION OWNER OF GREEN ACRES CAFE, THE POPULAR FRIED CHICKEN WING JOINT HAS BEEN HERE IN THIS LOCATION SINCE 1991. BUT EVEN BEFORE THEN, IT WAS A STAPLE IN THIS DISTRICT. WE WERE ACROSS THE PARK ADJACENT TO 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH WHEN WE FIRST OPENED UP IN 1958, NINE 1958, GREG GRATTON WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD WHEN THE CAFE RUN BY HIS FATHER, CHARLES GRATTON, WOULD BEGIN ITS MARRIAGE WITH THE FOURTH AVENUE NORTH BUSINESS DISTRICT, AN AREA KNOWN THEN AS AN ANCHOR FOR THE ONGOING CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THIS WAS THE CENTER OF AFRICAN AMERIC
FULL SPECIAL: Black History Month in Central Alabama
Updated: 6:34 PM CST Feb 23, 2024
With Birmingham’s rich history in the Civil Rights Movement, there are innumerable ways to recognize the achievements, contributions and sacrifices of African Americans during this Black History Month.In two historic Birmingham neighborhoods, the 4th Avenue Business District and Civil Rights District, efforts are underway to preserve and restore some very important buildings. In other cases, buildings are being transformed to ensure future business going forward.>> BACK IN BUSINESS: The latest upgrades to the historic Carver Theater>> LIVING OUT THEIR CREED: A Birmingham co-working space’s efforts to boost Black business owners>> DETERMINED DJ’s: How Birmingham’s Black radio stars transcended color and transformed Alabama’s airwaves>> ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: A look at the impact of Black Birmingham business mogul A.G. Gaston>> ‘WALKING IN HISTORY’: Preserving and revitalizing Birmingham’s Historic 4th Avenue North Business DistrictOutside of just the Magic City, Alabama is home to the most HBCUs in the country, attracting students in many fields, and continuing to educate future generations. WVTM 13 is honored to take you inside America’s oldest private HBCU, from the former slaves who founded it to the students who keep the tradition alive. >> STEEPED IN TRADITION: A look at the economic and cultural impact of HBCU Springcoming >> ATHLETIC EXPANSION: How Talladega College is leveling the playing field with its new gymnastics program >> COMPELLING ORIGINS: How a one-room schoolhouse became one of the most acclaimed colleges in the southeast >> ‘KEEP MARCHING ON’: The Talladega College Great Tornado Band’s journey to becoming an HBCU icon >> STUDENT SUCCESS: How HBCU scholarships have paved a path for half a million recipientsWatch the full special in the video player above.
With Birmingham’s rich history in the Civil Rights Movement, there are innumerable ways to recognize the achievements, contributions and sacrifices of African Americans during this Black History Month.
In two historic Birmingham neighborhoods, the 4th Avenue Business District and Civil Rights District, efforts are underway to preserve and restore some very important buildings. In other cases, buildings are being transformed to ensure future business going forward.
>> BACK IN BUSINESS: The latest upgrades to the historic Carver Theater
>> LIVING OUT THEIR CREED: A Birmingham co-working space’s efforts to boost Black business owners
>> DETERMINED DJ’s: How Birmingham’s Black radio stars transcended color and transformed Alabama’s airwaves
>> ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: A look at the impact of Black Birmingham business mogul A.G. Gaston
>> ‘WALKING IN HISTORY’: Preserving and revitalizing Birmingham’s Historic 4th Avenue North Business District
Outside of just the Magic City, Alabama is home to the most HBCUs in the country, attracting students in many fields, and continuing to educate future generations. WVTM 13 is honored to take you inside America’s oldest private HBCU, from the former slaves who founded it to the students who keep the tradition alive.
>> STEEPED IN TRADITION: A look at the economic and cultural impact of HBCU Springcoming
>> ATHLETIC EXPANSION: How Talladega College is leveling the playing field with its new gymnastics program
>> COMPELLING ORIGINS: How a one-room schoolhouse became one of the most acclaimed colleges in the southeast
>> ‘KEEP MARCHING ON’: The Talladega College Great Tornado Band’s journey to becoming an HBCU icon
>> STUDENT SUCCESS: How HBCU scholarships have paved a path for half a million recipients
Watch the full special in the video player above.
