City of Perpetual Promise: Difference between revisions
(New page: '''City of Perpetual Promise''' is an appellation which has been sometimes used to describe Birmingham. The "promise" refers principally to the mineral resources which many expected to...) |
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The phrase was used as the subtitle of a detailed analysis of Birmingham's conditions undertaken by ''Harpers Magazine'' editor [[George Leighton]] and published in August [[1937]]. It was reprinted in his book ''[[Five Cities]]'' in [[1939]]. | The phrase was used as the subtitle of a detailed analysis of Birmingham's conditions undertaken by ''Harpers Magazine'' editor [[George Leighton]] and published in August [[1937]]. It was reprinted in his book ''[[Five Cities]]'' in [[1939]]. | ||
Since then, the phrase has been recalled many times by critics of slow or retrograde progress in Birmingham, including former [[Mayor of Birmingham|Mayor]] [[Larry Langford]] who outlined steps he believed residents should take to create momentum for realizing the city's unfulfilled potential. | Since then, the phrase has been recalled many times by critics of slow or retrograde progress in Birmingham, including former [[Mayor of Birmingham|Mayor]] [[Larry Langford]] who, in a [[2009]] ''[[Birmingham News]]'' editrial, outlined steps he believed residents should take to create momentum for realizing the city's unfulfilled potential. At the [[2010]] [[Martin Luther King, Jr Unity Breakfast]], speaker [[Ed LaMonte]] referenced Leighton's essay and identified the organized [[Civil Rights Movement]] of the 1960s as a key step in unlocking the area's potential. | ||
On the other hand, activist [[Odessa Woolfolk]] has often used Leighton's article in contrast with a healthier climate for the exchange of ideas in today's city. Though the city still has far to go, she believes that it has largely caught up in step with the rest of the nation in dealing with problems that affect all Americans rather than just Birminghamians. | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
* {{Leighton-1937}} | * {{Leighton-1937}} | ||
* {{Leighton-1939}} | * {{Leighton-1939}} | ||
* Spencer, Thomas (April 29, 2007) "A matter of trust." ''Birmingham News'' | |||
* Langford, Larry (June 15, 2009) "[http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2009/06/larry_langford_city_of_perpetu.html 'City of perpetual promise' can live up to that potential]" editorial. ''Birmingham News'' | * Langford, Larry (June 15, 2009) "[http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2009/06/larry_langford_city_of_perpetu.html 'City of perpetual promise' can live up to that potential]" editorial. ''Birmingham News'' | ||
* LaMonte, Ed (January 18, 2010) "[http://bhamterminal.com/mybirmingham/2010/02/01/ed-lamonte-comments-mlk-birmingham/ Where do we go from here?]". Remarks to the Martin Luther King, Jr Unity Breakfast. Birmingham, Alabama - reprinted in ''[[The Terminal]]'' | |||
[[Category:Birmingham nicknames|City of Perpetual Promise]] | [[Category:Birmingham nicknames|City of Perpetual Promise]] | ||
Revision as of 01:26, 14 December 2010
City of Perpetual Promise is an appellation which has been sometimes used to describe Birmingham. The "promise" refers principally to the mineral resources which many expected to to fuel the growth of the Birmingham District into one of the world's great industrial centers. The qualification refers both to the calculated retardation and suppression of that potential for the benefit of outside interests, and to the shortage of progressive local leaders capable of reversing such damaging exploitation.
The phrase was used as the subtitle of a detailed analysis of Birmingham's conditions undertaken by Harpers Magazine editor George Leighton and published in August 1937. It was reprinted in his book Five Cities in 1939.
Since then, the phrase has been recalled many times by critics of slow or retrograde progress in Birmingham, including former Mayor Larry Langford who, in a 2009 Birmingham News editrial, outlined steps he believed residents should take to create momentum for realizing the city's unfulfilled potential. At the 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr Unity Breakfast, speaker Ed LaMonte referenced Leighton's essay and identified the organized Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s as a key step in unlocking the area's potential.
On the other hand, activist Odessa Woolfolk has often used Leighton's article in contrast with a healthier climate for the exchange of ideas in today's city. Though the city still has far to go, she believes that it has largely caught up in step with the rest of the nation in dealing with problems that affect all Americans rather than just Birminghamians.
References
- Leighton, George R. (August 1937) "Birmingham, Alabama: The City of Perpetual Promise". Harpers Magazine. No. 1407. pp. 225-242. Republished in Five Cities: The Story of their Youth and Old Age (also published as America's Growing Pains: The Romance, Comedy & Tragedy of Five Great Cities) New York: Harper & Brothers. pp. 100-139
- Template:Leighton-1939
- Spencer, Thomas (April 29, 2007) "A matter of trust." Birmingham News
- Langford, Larry (June 15, 2009) "'City of perpetual promise' can live up to that potential" editorial. Birmingham News
- LaMonte, Ed (January 18, 2010) "Where do we go from here?". Remarks to the Martin Luther King, Jr Unity Breakfast. Birmingham, Alabama - reprinted in The Terminal