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1. You’re obviously a troll
2. You’re wrong
3. You might be over the age of 55
Birmingham has not only outgrew that “image,” it’s not even in the same spectrum as the perception most people on here want to believe. It’s funny because you only hear those type of perceptions coming from nutjobs on here lol; it’s so hard for you guys to accept that Birmingham, that had socialistic problems in the past, to become progressive and prosperous.
It’s 2018 for crying out loud, you’re acting like people are out here in the streets hurling rocks at Black Kids, lol stop it.
Birmingham’s graded a higher HRC Score than Memphis and Nashville, The Immigrant Community is largely embraced, The DNC wanted Birmingham to bid for the 2020 Convention. Come on now, stop spewing lies, it’s toxic.
You give the American mainstream population entirely too much credit. Most Americans don't know much about other cities that aren't in close proximity, and the South as a whole still suffers from a lagging perception among the general public. I've seen popular TV shows that depict Atlanta as being run by good ol' boys with thick Southern drawls (Law and Order comes readily to mind), I've talked with people who thought Charlotte was a small town and were shocked when they visited and discovered a modern city with gleaming highrises and major department stores, yet you think Birmingham has managed to successfully shake all of the negative stigma that has historically been attached to it--which has arguably been the worst among Southern cities, and in a state that has even more of a negative reputation to boot???? The average American is nowhere near informed about cities as we are on this board. I know you love the city but even natives and locals can readily admit this (and they do).
You give the American mainstream population entirely too much credit. Most Americans don't know much about other cities that aren't in close proximity, and the South as a whole still suffers from a lagging perception among the general public. I've seen popular TV shows that depict Atlanta as being run by good ol' boys with thick Southern drawls (Law and Order comes readily to mind), I've talked with people who thought Charlotte was a small town and were shocked when they visited and discovered a modern city with gleaming highrises and major department stores, yet you think Birmingham has managed to successfully shake all of the negative stigma that has historically been attached to it--which has arguably been the worst among Southern cities, and in a state that has even more of a negative reputation to boot???? The average American is nowhere near informed about cities as we are on this board. I know you love the city but even natives and locals can readily admit this (and they do).
Oh Birmingham has shaken off the negative stigma, actually for a while now; it just so happens that the city is unfortunate to be centered within the state of Alabama, which has publicly came out and personally stated that it wouldn't support Birmingham.
A few days ago, there was a story that blew up about a Black kid from Homewood who walked to his job in Pelham because his car broke down, he was eventually gifted a car by the CEO of the company. And one of the responses on here was...
Quote:
I live in Washington, and if you mentioned something like this happening in Alabama, most people the greater Seattle area could not believe such an example of care and concern for people could take place in Alabama. What do people think about this?
Clearly some people have an outdated view on the Birmingham Area and it's residents because of the negative perception that Alabama leaves on the state. As far as I know, the one's who really have a skewed perception of Birmingham, are those aren't exactly from the South, aren't exposed enough, or just aren't intertwined with the millennial community.
As The New York Times would say...
Quote:
Founded in 1871 at the junction of railroad lines, Alabama’s largest city is used to moving forward. Part stone-ground grits and part steely grit, Birmingham flourished so quickly that it earned the name “Magic City†during the heyday of its iron trade. But this melting pot has also been a pressure cooker of racial tensions, overshadowed by a violent history of segregation and brutality against African-Americans. Today, as you retrace the steps of demonstrators who changed the course of American history on the Civil Rights Heritage Trail, you’ll find a city experiencing an electrifying revival. Creative entrepreneurs are returning home, airy lofts breathe new life into downtown and Southern cooking gets global makeovers. Home of the nation’s first bike-share program that incorporates electric pedal-assisted bikes, Birmingham is ready to surprise you.
Clearly some people have an outdated view on the Birmingham Area and it's residents because of the negative perception that Alabama leaves on the state. As far as I know, the one's who really have a skewed perception of Birmingham, are those aren't exactly from the South, aren't exposed enough, or just aren't intertwined with the millennial community.
And that is a crap ton of people, sad to say. And that's to say nothing about the revival of anti-intellectualism and celebration of ignorance underway in this country right now. That excerpt from the fake and failing NY Times means nothing to a lot of people; they don't trust the liberal lamestream media.
Oh, and I completely failed to mention the negative stigma that comes with being a majority Black city as well. That's a lot for Birmingham to overcome in terms of public perception.
And that is a crap ton of people, sad to say. And that's to say nothing about the revival of anti-intellectualism and celebration of ignorance underway in this country right now. That excerpt from the fake and failing NY Times means nothing to a lot of people; they don't trust the liberal lamestream media.
Oh, and I completely failed to mention the negative stigma that comes with being a majority Black city as well. That's a lot for Birmingham to overcome in terms of public perception.
I was frightened for a moment, Mutiny, then I reread it with a different tone and it all made glorious sense.
The correct answer is that they are all equally, quintessentially, Southern. The South has never had a monolithic culture or economy. The port cities in particular have been diverse for centuries (maybe not to the extent of say Philadelphia but diverse nonetheless).
I was frightened for a moment, Mutiny, then I reread it with a different tone and it all made glorious sense.
The correct answer is that they are all equally, quintessentially, Southern. The South has never had a monolithic culture or economy. The port cities in particular have been diverse for centuries (maybe not to the extent of say Philadelphia but diverse nonetheless).
Quintessential and equal mean different things, though. The south may not be a monolithic region, but it is a defined region with a set of characteristics that are generally accepted as southern qualities. The poll is asking which city best represents these qualities.
This is why I voted for Memphis, as I feel its location gives it ties to most if not all regions of the south, and its history and culture are emblematic of what the region is known for.
Quintessential and equal mean different things, though. The south may not be a monolithic region, but it is a defined region with a set of characteristics that are generally accepted as southern qualities. The poll is asking which city best represents these qualities.
This is why I voted for Memphis, as I feel its location gives it ties to most if not all regions of the south, and its history and culture are emblematic of what the region is known for.
I agree with you concerning Memphis; after all, it's the capital of the Mississippi Delta region, and I don't think it gets much more Southern than that.
But I do see why Birmingham is leading in the poll. Although I consider Memphis to be a Deep South city, overall Tennessee isn't a Deep South state and Memphis brands itself as the mid-South whereas Alabama is unquestionably part of the Deep South and the city and state embrace that label. Alabama's nickname is the Heart of Dixie and Birmingham is essentially the heart of Alabama. In short, Birmingham and Alabama self-identify in the strongest of Southern terms whereas Memphis and Tennessee don't go quite that far and the state has more of an 'internal' identity with its cultural contributions to the nation and the world, particularly when it comes to music, comprising a huge chunk of that identity.
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