Community

Jefferson County Kicks Off Bicentennial Celebration

THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES — The number “200” was spelled out in the shape of orange and purple balloons as a cool breeze whispered across the Vulcan Park and Museum on Monday morning. At the top of the steps leading to the museum a purple sign announced “200 Years of Innovation” with the “Jefferson County Bicentennial” stretched across the bottom of the sign.

Published

5 years ago

May 16, 2019

Oakland Post

By Ameera Steward

The number “200” was spelled out in the shape of orange and purple balloons as a cool breeze whispered across the Vulcan Park and Museum on Monday morning.

At the top of the steps leading to the museum a purple sign announced “200 Years of Innovation” with the “Jefferson County Bicentennial” stretched across the bottom of the sign.

Welcome to the kick-off of the bicentennial celebration for Jefferson County that drew County Manager Tony Petelos and all five county commissioners President Jimmie Stephens, Lashunda Scales, Sheila Tyson, Joe Knight, and Steve Ammons.

“We’re going to have events in each commission district with the help of each commissioner in those areas to highlight the local communities and what they have meant in Jefferson County through the year,” said Petelos.

A logo announcing 200 years of innovation is a testament to how much the county has grown from an “iron and steel town to the home of UAB, a world-class medical facility,” Petelos said.

Jefferson County was founded in December 1819 and building up to that “we’re going to highlight communities and cities throughout the county…we have an incredible history and this is a great place to live and raise a family,” said Petelos.

The county was established on Dec. 13, 1819 and will reach 200, one day before Alabama turns 200.

Beginning June 27, which is 200 days from the county’s 200th anniversary, officials will begin highlighting communities, people and places on social media. Buildings will be marked with the new bicentennial logo, Petelos said.

Since its founding, Jefferson County has been home to innovation, medical technology, and served an award-winning food and dining scene, Jefferson County has become a haven for culture and innovation,” said Petelos.

Scales said she hopes people will see the intentional efforts made by the county to diversify.

“As the first woman to be elected for county commission District 1 I believe that, that also is about the changing of hearts as it relates to women, race, religion, that we all recognize that though we are different in our backgrounds, we’re one as it relates to the county moving forward in a very progressive manner,” she said. “I believe that in the years to come that Jefferson County will be known as part of Alabama’s most progressive counties that we’ve ever seen.”

While the county is celebrating the past 200 years, Stephens said he is excited by what’s to come.

“It’s in our hands to forge and to make sure that we cover the right path. Let’s make sure that we continue to work together, draw on our diversity and get that done,” he said.

Knight said there is good, bad and perhaps the ugly to see in the county’s history, “but as leaders we should learn from pass mistakes and collectively concentrate on putting the building blocks in place for those who will follow us as they become the next leaders,” he said. “I am confident that Jefferson County will thrive and continue to be on the forefront of good things to come.”

Ammons said his District 5 has something to offer for everyone, from shopping and entertainment to outdoor adventures. “We have 200 years of collected beauty and history to offer our residents. Jefferson County is moving in the right direction and I look forward to not only growing with Jefferson County but improving the quality of life for our residents and our quality of place for our residents and our visitors,” he said.

Tyson said she hopes the role of African-Americans will also be celebrated.

“We were inventing things, we were very intelligent people, we were lawyers and doctors and inventors….so I would like for people to know that,” Tyson said. “So, it’s time for someone to tell the story and people to come out of the communities that have never been asked to participate in this bicentennial.”

The county is asking residents to submit their stories about the people and places of Jefferson County history on the county website.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

MC Lyte Making Dreams a Reality for African American Scholars

Don't Miss

Explore the city’s treasures with Doors Open Minneapolis

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

WOMEN IMPACTING THE CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

Published

23 hours ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Juanita Matthews

Sister Juanita Matthews

55 Years with Oakland Public School District

The Teacher, Mother, Community Outreach Champion, And Child of God

Juanita Matthews, better known as “Sister Teacher,” is a walking Bible scholar. She moved to California from the great state of Arkansas in 1971. Sister Teacher has a passion for teaching. She has been a member of Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church since 1971. She followed her passion for teaching, and in 1977 became the lead teacher for Adult Class #6. Her motto still today is “Once My Student, Always My Student”.

Beyond her remarkable love for the Lord, Sister Teacher has showcased her love for teaching by working for the Oakland Unified School District for 55 years, all but four of those years spent at Emerson Elementary and Child Development School. She truly cares about her students, making sure they have the tools/supplies needed to learn either at OUSD or Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

She’s also had a “Clothes Closet Ministry” for 51 years, making sure her students have sufficient clothing for school. The Clothes Closet Ministry extends past her students, she has been clothing the community for over 50 years as well. She loves the Lord and is a servant on a mission. She is a loving mother to two beautiful children, Sandra and Andre. This is the impact this woman of God has on her church and the community.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Bay Area

Vivian Coit, 98

Vivian Coit, a proud Dallas, Texas native made her way to the great state of California in 1943. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother.

Published

23 hours ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Vivian Coit

Celebrating A Life Well Lived

Sept. 15, 1925 ~ March 30, 2024

Vivian Coit, a proud Dallas, Texas native made her way to the great state of California in 1943. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother.

In her 98 years, she had various jobs – San Francisco Naval Shipyard, elevator operator, housekeeping, a salesclerk, and supervisor for the United States Postal Service. After 27 years of service with the United States Postal Service, she retired with numerous commendations. She was a lifetime member of the National Council of Negro Women. and a devoted member of the Washington/Lincoln Alumni Association of Dallas, Texas.

On April 20 at 10:00 a.m., a life well-lived will be celebrated at Beebe Memorial Cathedral CME Church, 3900 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA under the leadership of Rev. Antoine Shyne.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Commentary

Opinion: Surviving the Earthquake, an Eclipse and “Emil Amok.”

Last Friday, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake shook New York City, reported as the “biggest earthquake with an epicenter in the NYC area since 1884” when a 5.2 quake hit. A bit bigger. The last quake similar to Friday’s was a 4.9 in 1783.Alexander Hamilton felt it — 241 years ago. That’s why New Yorkers were freaking out on Friday. They were in the room where it happens.

Published

24 hours ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

In New York City, the eclipse was about 90 percent visible. Good enough for me. Though a full solar eclipse is a celestial rarity, blockages of any sort aren’t generally celebrated. My one-man play is about growing up with the eclipsed history of American Filipinos and how I struggle to unblock all that.

By Emil Guillermo

I’m a Northern Californian in New York City for the next few weeks, doing my one-man show, “Emil Amok, Lost NPR Host, Wiley Filipino, Vegan Transdad.”

I must like performing in the wake of Mother Nature.

Alexander Hamilton felt it — 241 years ago.

That’s why New Yorkers were freaking out on Friday. They were in the room where it happens.

And it just doesn’t happen that often.

Beyonce singing country music happens more frequently.

When I felt New York shake last week, it reminded me of a time in a San Francisco TV newsroom when editors fretted about a lack of news an hour before showtime.

Then the office carpeting moved for a good ten seconds, and the news gods gave us our lead story.

On Friday when it happened in NYC, I noticed the lines in the carpeting in my room wiggling. But I thought it was from a raucous hotel worker vacuuming nearby.

I didn’t even think earthquake. In New York?

I just went about my business as if nothing had happened. After living near fault lines all my life, I was taking things for granted.

Considering the age of structures in New York, I should have been even more concerned about falling objects inside (shelves, stuff on walls) and outside buildings (signs, scaffolding), fire hazards from possible gas leaks, and then I should have looked for others on my floor and in the hotel lobby to confirm or aid or tell stories.

Of course, as a Californian who has lived through and covered quakes in the 4 to 6 magnitude range, I tried to calm down any traumatized New Yorker I encountered by taking full responsibility for bringing in the quake from the Bay Area.

I reassured them things would be all right, and then let them know that 4.8s are nothing.

And then I invited them to my consoling post-Earthquake performance of “Emil Amok, Lost NPR Host…”

It was the night of the eclipse.

ECLIPSING THE ECLIPSE

For example, did you know the first Filipinos actually arrived to what is now California in 1587? That’s 33 years before the Pilgrims arrived in America on the other coast, but few know the Filipino history which has been totally eclipsed.

I was in Battery Park sitting on a bench and there was a sense of community as people all came to look up. A young woman sitting next to me had a filter for a cell phone camera. We began talking and she let me use it. That filter enabled me to take a picture of the main event with my iPhone.

For helping me see, I invited her and her boyfriend to come see my show.

Coincidentally, she was from Plymouth, Massachusetts, near the rock that says the year the Pilgrims landed in 1620.

In my show she learned the truth. The Pilgrims were second.

History unblocked. But it took a solar eclipse.

Next one in 2044? We have a lot more unblocking to do.

If you’re in New York come see my show, Sat. April 13th, 5:20 pm Eastern; Fri. April 19, 8:10 pm Eastern; and Sun. April 21st 5:20 pm Eastern.

You can also livestream the show. Get tickets at www.amok.com/tickets

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a mini-talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1. He wishes all his readers a Happy Easter!