2021 Mayor's Election (Birmingham, Detroit, Black: felony, high school, college)

[GotLuv4Bham]

A couple of people have thrown their hat in the ring for this year's Mayor's election. I personally believe Mayor Randall Woodfin has represented this city in a very professional way. He is more transparent than any Mayor this city has seen! I honestly like the trajectory that the city is on. God, I hope we don't take this city in reverse and elect any of these old fashioned election chasers. Woodfin's youth and intelligence is definitely a breath of fresh air for Birmingham! Just my opinion, what do you guys think?

[MinivanDriver]

Lashunda Scales filed. Total horror show. I've never met anyone who worked with her who didn't come away damaged. She narrowly escaped a felony conviction a few years ago due to a plea deal.

[GotLuv4Bham]

I feel like we have to have at least one more term from Woodfin to really set Birmingham on a solid path to success. You can tell how seriously he takes his job by the team he surrounds himself with. His administration is full of people who actually are experts in their job, as opposed to just friends. He's been interviewed several times on multiple national cable news networks, and he always represents us well. I'm always proud when CNN or MSNBC, etc is like, "And today we have with us, Randall Woodfin, Mayor of Birmingham Alabama". You just know that you are about to witness a thoughtful and intelligent interview! Only fault I find in the guy is that he's so soft spoken. He needs to stand up for himself more. Certain city council members are always beating up on him. Well, one really, and that's Steven Hoyt!

[Alabama211]

I don’t share all Woodfin’s politics, but he seems to be doing a great job and represents the city well.

[bhamblazer]

Scales or Hoyt would be horrible.

[AttyShekelman]

wow ! what happened to white candidates?? I knew Birmingham is a mostly black city, but I really didn't realize the white population shrunk to less than 25% !! (according to Ballotpedia)...is THIS now correct? I thought Birmingham started a pattern of in-migration? What is exactly happening in politics??








Total population:212,2114,853,875Land area (square miles):14650,645Race and ethnicity[3]White:24%68.8%Black/African American:72.6%26.4%Asian:1%1.2%Native American:0.2%0.5%Pacific Islander:0%0.1%Two or more:1%1.7%Hispanic/Latino:3.5%4%EducationHigh school graduation rate:85.1%84.3%College graduation rate:24.2%23.5%gl

[steveklein]

Originally Posted by AttyShekelman

wow ! what happened to white candidates?? I knew Birmingham is a mostly black city, but I really didn't realize the white population shrunk to less than 25% !! (according to Ballotpedia)...is THIS now correct? I thought Birmingham started a pattern of in-migration? What is exactly happening in politics??

Every mayor of Birmingham since 1979 has been black. Birmingham has been a majority black city for a long time. As of 2010, the city was about 22% white. We'll see what the 2020 census says, but I doubt it changes by too many percentage points. Maybe 2 or 3 percent one way or the other. I don't think you'll see a white mayor of Birmingham for a very long time.

[AttyShekelman]

Why the loss in non-black population, but the msa *seems* increasing? hmm

[steveklein]

Originally Posted by AttyShekelman

Why the loss in non-black population, but the msa *seems* increasing? hmm

Not really a loss of non-black population. Are you really not familiar with white flight that started like 60 or 70 years ago, and is hardly unique to Birmingham?

[AttyShekelman]

Originally Posted by steveklein

Not really a loss of non-black population. Are you really not familiar with white flight that started like 60 or 70 years ago, and is hardly unique to Birmingham?

Yes, I do understand historical white flight in many cities across the nation but these numbers I read on ballotpedia would seem to suggest MORE bifurcation of races not less at 2021. At this rate of now being 73% black, no one will want to live in Birmingham but blacks if that's true. Then it would be fair to assume that white flight is accelerating not reversing? That couldn't be a good thing can it? Maybe it is for some?



In the total US, black constitute about 13% of the population. HISPANICS constitute 18% of the total population (the now largest minority group?)


Much larger cities such as Los Angeles only have 48% HISPANIC, Houston only 43%, Dallas 42%.


Birmingham is 20% higher "black" than Atlanta (55% of population). Birmingham seems to be the only southern "large" city with the highest black population, thus the blackest larger city in the US, second only to DETROIT. Birmingham is blacker than Memphis (a much larger city).


I don't know if it's reasonable to conclude that white flight is pronounced in Birmingham? if so, why the big differences when compared to other US cities?


The concentration of blacks in Birmingham (for its size) is noteworthy, so is the dearth of whites.


Birmingham is thus not a "diverse city" in re how the term relates to traditional racial nomenclature. It's far from it given the numbers. It is also not "diverse" given the documented voting patterns, and leadership as you aptly mentioned.


Of course if a newcomer or transplant thinks(or seeks) that true "diversity" is having a 73% black population in a city, I would firmly disagree and perhaps chuckle a bit.


It also seems to have unanimity of political thought to a large degree. That's not "diversity" either. There is no real reversal of this obvious lack of "diversity".