If you are interested in celebrating civil rights in Birmingham, Alabama, here are some events you may be interested in. There is the Sidewalk Film Festival, the Life + Liberty film series, and the George Taylor memorial and Kelly Ingram Park. All events are free and open to the public.
Sidewalk Film Festival
The Sidewalk Film Festival is one of Birmingham’s largest film festivals. Screening more than 200 films, it features independent, rare, and socially conscious films. This year, the festival will feature nine venues in downtown Birmingham. Films include documentaries, narrative shorts, music videos, and animated shorts. More than 1,200 submissions were received. The Sidewalk Film Festival has been a staple of the Birmingham film scene for over 17 years.
The festival’s opening night extravaganza will feature BANKSY MOST WANTED and Giuseppe Capotoni’s THE BURNT ORANGE HERESY (starring Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Debicki, and Claes Bang). The festival’s online offerings will continue its educational work. In addition, a virtual presentation with actor Michael O’Neill will be held on Zoom. In the conversation, the actor will discuss his career and offer advice for aspiring actors.
Life + Liberty films
Life + Liberty is a film series that examines historical civil rights events and contemporary human rights issues. The film series is held in downtown Birmingham, AL, which was an important hub of the 1960s civil rights movement. Life + Liberty was born out of the growing popularity of civil rights documentaries.
A recent documentary, “Freedom Riders,” chronicles a pivotal, yet gruesome chapter of the civil rights movement. The film, which will air on PBS, is an absorbing history of the Freedom Riders, who bravely rode a bus through the South to challenge segregation in interstate travel. The Freedom Riders faced violence on the road, but they persisted and eventually won the victory.
George Taylor memorial
A new mural and market at Birmingham’s airport will give travelers a sense of the city’s role in the civil rights movement. The market, which opens this weekend, features items from Alabama’s civil rights history. Visitors will also see a mural of George Taylor. The city hopes the new improvements will create a lasting impression.
Two new plays will be performed at the festival. One, “Memory,” is written by Quinton Cockrell, based on research from the Jefferson County Memorial Project. The play explores the history of lynchings in the Jefferson County area. Another play, “True North,” written by Holly Reed and featuring music by Kelvin Reed, follows a child with autism as she discovers the wonder of Christmas. A documentary about Holocaust survivors will also feature moving stories.
Kelly Ingram Park
Kelly Ingram Park is a large, four-acre park located in the Birmingham, Alabama, civil rights district. It is bounded by 16th and 17th Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues North. The park is an important site for events about equality and civil rights.
The park is home to a number of monuments commemorating the civil rights struggle. There is a traditional statue of Martin Luther King, Jr., who is best known for his “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” Other monuments honor important leaders of the movement, and some focus on student protests.
HBCU SpringComing festival
The HBCU SpringComing festival is a celebration of the experiences and legacy of historically Black colleges and universities. It includes educational panels, events, and a tour of the historic civil rights district. The festival takes place from May 27 to 29. The weekend is jam-packed with activities for attendees.
The festival is one of the largest gatherings of HBCU alumni in the Northeast. It has always welcomed influential Black leaders and students from across the country. Not only does it allow attendees to relive the spirit of the HBCU campus, but it also connects them with resources and opportunities that will improve their life outcomes. In addition, the festival awards the Puissance Scholarship and the USTA Althea Gibson Scholarship to students who are interested in attending a HBCU.