Birmingham Pledge
The Birmingham Pledge is an oath aimed at eliminating racial prejudice. It was conceived in 1997 by Jim Rotch and has since evolved into a non-profit organization, the Birmingham Pledge Foundation which sponsors an annual Teen Conference, alliances with neighborhoods and communities, and organized Study Circles.
A Birmingham Pledge mural covers the east side of the Birmingham Police Headquarters building on 1st Avenue North.
To date, over 120,000 people worldwide have signed the Birmingham Pledge. In 2008 the foundation formed a partnership with the Cincinnatus Association which promotes good governance in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The 2011 class of Leadership Birmingham chose to renew efforts to publicize the pledge, with a goal of achieving 500,000 signatures before September 15, 2013, the 50th anniversary of the 1963 church bombing.
Text of the Birmingham Pledge
I believe that every person has worth as an individual.
I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color.
I believe that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others.
Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.
I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity.
I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I will strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.
References
- Rotch, Jim. excerpt of presentation to Operation New Birmingham on July 21, 1999. [1] - accessed April 6, 2006
- Jaffe, Dana (September 14, 2008) "Ohio civic group takes notes on city pledge, racial history." Birmingham News
- Crawford, Cindy F. (May 6, 2011) "Remember the Birmingham Pledge?" Birmingham Business Journal