The Institute (協会)

"If Robert E. Lee is a hero of yours you're going to be suspicious to blacks."

I think that's a shame. And it's only because so many people of all races are ignorant of who Lee was and what he believed.

"I also continue to be amazed at how emotionally attached Southerners are to Confederate Battle Flag."

This is a harder one. I just wrote a lot of stuff and deleted it. There is no truly simple answer. For some very obvious portions of the Southern population, it is about racism. For most, though, it isn't. If you've ever read a good cross-section of Southern literature, then you've noticed the tragic feel it has--the almost gothic vein of darkness that runs through it. Southern history has that tragic vein, as well. And that tragedy lends itself to a deep-seated nostalgia for what the South might have become were it not for the darkness of Reconstruction. Reconstruction was, in many ways, far darker for the average Southern person and family--both white and black--than the War was. I, personally, am convinced that in his insanity, Booth did a terrible disservice to the South by murdering Lincoln. Had Lincoln served his second term, Reconstruction would have been far different for everyone; possibly never seeing any Jim Crowe laws. At any rate, Southerners like symbols. They carry symbols and lineages with them as part of their identity. When people attack their symbols, they tend to take it as a personal attack, regardless of the actual reasons for the issues of the symbol. It represents who they are because it shows them their past. (In some ways very like the Scots. Actually, many Southerners probably feel about the Federal gvt the way the Scots feel about English control.) The problem is that the most obvious and poignant symbols of the South have been commandeered by racists who don't really even understand the single point of Southern history they have decided to trumpet: slavery. I tend to avoid discussing the battle flag or having around simply because of the way it has been co-opted by racists. I find their ignorance completely inexuseable, but their beliefs are deeply rooted in their family belief system. Southerners are emotional and loyal people, even when their loyalty doesn't really make sense (hence the rabid nature of LSU fans. :}) I don't know if that really addresses the question, but I hope it's in some insightful. They are loyal to symbols because their grandparents were loyal to symbols. They are loyal to the South because it is their "ancient home," so to speak. And some are loyal to racism because it is their family heritage. The South has longer memories, I think than other regions. And more affinity for the tragic.

Anyway. I think I still ended up with a lot of words that may not have explained anything. I guess that's because it all has very little to do with logic, and very to do with identity. At least you had some good BBQ. :) And it's always good to hear someone say, "y'all."

as someone who currently resides in the great city-state of Birmingham, you missed the boat if you think the summit is representative of 'the ham'.

Next time you are in town, look me up and we will avoid the summit and the 'over the mountain' crowd like the plague and see the real town, you may be surprised how integrated much of the town is.

Side note: I found much more racism in St. Louis when I lived there than in Birmingham. Down here we have red-neck (most of them Alabama fans) but if you can get past that stereotype and see the real people of the town, living and working together, you may find it refreshing.

Anyway, glad you got some que!

You forgot the URL for Dreamland, bro:

www.dreamlandbbq.com/

They do franchises!

And think a minute about how someone from "south of the border" might take your "wrong side of town" comment. I know that's not what you meant, but in our age of thin skin, you know.

I'm glad you visited our fair city. Next time let me know you're coming, we'll hang out.
My perspective on Birmingham changed drastically in the recent past. I got the chance to take a seminar taught by Carl Ellis Jr. entitled "The History and Theology of the African-American Church". Amazing. My eyes were opened to an incredible reality and history that is still at work around me in this city. Our city may have had the turmoil of firehoses and dogs, but we also have Dr. King's incredible, "Letter from the Birmingham Jail", etc. To conclude the class Dr. Ellis toured the Civil Rights museum with the class. What a great experience. If you've never met Dr. Ellis or if you haven't read his stuff you should check it out. His book "Free At Last" is well worth the read. Anyhow, come on back to B'ham soon, we won't go near the summit.

That sounds like an amazing seminar, Quinn.

As someone who grew up in Birmingham, I think your assessment is off base. Yes, to be sure, the name "Birmingham" evokes images of Bull Connor and his poilice force turning fire hoses on civil rights demonstrators. The name brings back memories of the nightmare that was the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing.

But as Birminghamians we lived through all that, and we learned from that. We have grown. We are not the same place we once were. Birmingham is a lot more New South than Old South. As one comment said, sure, you will find rednecks there, but the south is not the only place you will find those.

Give Birmingham a break, Bradley. We've worked very hard to overcome the stereotype that you so nonchalantly dredge back up again. You said you "Had a moment where you remembered how bad race relations are there." I can't tell from this if you actually witnessed something, or if you simply had a recollection of something that happened a long time ago. Either way, this is anecdotal and doesn't prove that things are as you say they are.

You owe the people of Birmingham, most of whom have worked very hard over these past forty-plus years to improve race relations, a big apology.

The Dreamland sauce is still good. I mail order it to Air Force bases all over the country. The ribs themselves are nowhere near as good as they used to be at the original location outside of Tuscaloosa.

I'm just a Pennsylvania Yankee who was ingrafted into the University of Alabama family so I am by no means a Birmingham expert. I can tell you though that the Summit might as well be in Chicago, Dallas, or Tampa. It's a good place to go to Barnes and Noble but is nothing like the "real" Birmingham.

And Churnock, if you think that the "rednecks" are mostly Alabama fans, you haven't been to the greater Opelika metropolitan area for awhile.