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The Game or The Bands: Which Draws More Fans to the Magic City Classic?

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. For The Birmingham Times The band directors at the Magic City Classic know there are some fans that won’t enter Birmingham’s Legion Field until just before intermission and some that may leave before the second-half kickoff. And they’re fine with that. “To be honest with you, the band is, to me, […]
The post The Game or The Bands: Which Draws More Fans to the Magic City Classic? first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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3 years ago

October 25, 2023

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On Saturday, October 28, ASU and Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU) will meet on the gridiron at Legion Field for the Magic City Classic, the largest historically Black college and university (HBCU) football game in the nation. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr., For The Birmingham Times)

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By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

For The Birmingham Times

The band directors at the Magic City Classic know there are some fans that won’t enter Birmingham’s Legion Field until just before intermission and some that may leave before the second-half kickoff.

And they’re fine with that.

“To be honest with you, the band is, to me, the most important part of that game,” said James Oliver, Ed.D., director of bands at Alabama State University (ASU). “The band is what’s going to bring that entertainment to the people, and some people just come for the band.”

Oliver believes that many female attendees may not understand football; they come for the band. Other attendees come for football—and the band, he said.

“The [seating] section next to the band—I hear this from the ticket office all the time—gets filled up quick, before any other section in the stadium,” Oliver said. “The band brings that excitement to the football game. It brings a lot of band heads and a lot of band students, especially little kids that want to see it.

“They’re not paying attention to football, but they’ll stop and look at the halftime show when it’s on that field. It is the highlight of every football game. Try not having the band there.”

Carlton J. Wright, director of the AAMU band, said HBCU band performances have gone to another level.

“It used to be that the field show was—and it still is—the primary reason why bands exist in the HBCU world,” he said. “But now there’s an element called the stand battles, or fifth quarters, when the bands go back and forth at the end of the game. Take the Magic City Classic. We at [AAMU] will play a tune, and after we finish [ASU] will play a tune.”

The postgame performances go back and forth for about three or four rounds, leaving fans to proclaim the winner.

“Our fans are gonna say we won. Their fans are gonna say they won,” Wright said. “Then you’re gonna have those people in the middle who have no ties to either university that might say, ‘OK, [AAMU] won this one or [ASU] won that one,’ but it’s all in entertainment.”

Sports attorney Donald M. Jackson has game programs from HBCU athletic events dating back decades. Years ago, the front covers of those programs featured football players.

Today, he says, a greater emphasis when promoting an HBCU football classic is placed on the bands. In fact, leading up to this year’s matchup, a billboard along northbound Interstate 65 in Birmingham promotes the Magic City Classic with images of the drum majors of the respective schools.

Jackson, an adjunct associate professor of sports law at Samford University, said such marketing is counterproductive in the age of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights, which “refer to the ability of an individual to control and profit from the use of their name, image, and likeness in various forms of media, including advertising, merchandise, and video games.

These rights have historically been associated with professional athletes and celebrities, but now college athletes also are able to monetize their NIL rights,” according to the NIL Network.

“Ninety-eight out of 100 people who go to the Magic City Classic don’t care anything about football,” said Jackson, who earned an undergraduate degree from ASU before earning his law degree from the University of Virginia. “They’re focused on the ancillary things, and the ancillary things don’t necessarily benefit the athletic department.”

“The fans that come to the game to see a band are not going to contribute to an NIL collective,” the attorney added. “The fans that come to the game to see a band and leave [after] halftime are not going to donate any money to the athletic department or to a booster club. The fans that come to games to see a band are not going to donate any money to a school. They’re going to see the band, and then they’re going home after halftime.”

Jackson said marketing bands and dancing girls do little to reel in high-level football recruits.

“As a matter of fact, in some instances, it actually may drive them away,” he said. “If you’re a five-star quarterback, you want a university’s marketing during football season to focus on you, not on a band or drum major.”

The 82nd Magic City Classic between Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and Alabama State University will take place on Saturday, October 28, at Birmingham’s Legion Field. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. Central Time.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

The post The Game or The Bands: Which Draws More Fans to the Magic City Classic? first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park

ATLANTA VOICE — A mural depicting late journalist Jovita Moore, painted on the exterior wall of a building now occupied by Bellwood Coffee in Grant Park, was painted over in April. Moore passed away in 2021 after decades of working in Atlanta television news. Bellwood Coffee owners stated in May they were unaware of Moore’s identity or significance to the community before painting over the mural.
The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

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At the corner of Boulevard, SE. and Rosalia St., SE., directly across the street from an abandoned home and a Methodist Church, is Bellwood Coffee. One of hundreds of coffee shops in Atlanta, this place of business would not be worth a solitary discussion if not for the way its exterior walls are currently painted. There was once a mural depicting the late Jovita Moore, a beloved journalist who worked in Atlanta for decades. Moore, who passed away in 2021, mentored many of the people you see on television newscasts today. Though her legacy will never be forgotten, it was the mural of her image that was erased.

In April, members of the Grant Park community voiced their disgust at the mural, which graced a side wall of the building now occupied by Bellwood Coffee’s Grant Park location, before it was painted over. In its place are the words “Bellwood Coffee; Cocktails, Biscuits, Dry Goods, Air Conditioning. *Heat Too”. In May, the business owners responded to the community pushback on social media by acknowledging they did not know who Moore was before painting over her image. And later admitted that they did not attempt to find out what she meant to the community.

On May 21, the Bellwood Coffee Instagram account had a post about being “in close contact with Jovita’s family and are actively working on next steps in this process.” Two months later, the mural has not been replaced, repainted, or repositioned on the property. Nothing has been done. Black history is often erased, most recently by the current Presidential administration, but oftentimes on a smaller, quieter scale. The mural was originally painted by muralist Tommy Bronx, who had been in contact with the business owners about repainting it. As of July 6, Tommy Bronx had responded to a direct message via his Instagram account from The Atlanta Voice about any updates on his plans to repaint the mural.

“We’re currently working on it. You should see some movement in the weeks to come,” he wrote in a response.

On Monday, July 6, the business had several patrons inside and was running smoothly with three employees manning the counter. The Atlanta Voice dropped by Bellwood Coffee to get a look at the exterior wall where the mural once stood as a memorial to a journalist and mother who lost her life to brain cancer at the young age of 54. Moore’s image added some color to the block. The grey wall in its place does not.

A direct message was sent to the Bellwood Coffee Instagram account, and there hasn’t been a response as of 7 p.m. on Monday.

The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.

Based on reporting by Atlanta Voice.

The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD — A New York man faces felony hate crime charges for allegedly posting a threat against New York State Senator Lea Webb. James A. Crosby, 49, of Binghamton, was arrested by New York State Police after investigators determined he posted a threatening comment on a social media news post about a Juneteenth celebration.
The post ‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

A New York man is facing felony hate crime charges after allegedly posting that he’d be “proud to hang” New York State Senator Lea Webb from a tree in response to a news story about a Juneteenth celebration.

James A. Crosby, 49, of Binghamton, was arrested June 23 by New York State Police after investigators determined he posted a threatening comment on a WBNG 12 News Facebook post. “I’d be proud to hang her from a tree,” Crosby wrote, according to WBNG.

Crosby was charged with making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, a class C felony, per the New York State Police. He is currently being held at Broome County Jail.

During the subsequent investigation, state police found Crosby was in illegal possession of firearms despite being prohibited from owning them due to a prior felony conviction. Investigators recovered a rifle, a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, and a firearm suppressor — all prohibited under New York state law, per the NYSP.

Crosby was charged with four additional counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, all class D felonies.

Webb, who represents New York’s 52nd Senate District, had been a featured speaker at a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony at Binghamton City Hall, where the celebration included prayers and the singing of the Black national anthem.

Police said Crosby’s comment was posted in response to a WBNG news story covering the event.

The day before his arrest, Crosby posted a Facebook apology claiming the comment “was not intended to be racial in any way” and was made in reference to what he described as a “criminal,” citing criticism of Webb over her use of nonprofit legal aid in a foreclosure case — a matter state watchdogs said created an appearance of a conflict of interest, per the Ithaca Voice. He was arrested the following day.

Webb issued a public statement June 25 condemning the threat.

“It was extremely disappointing and hurtful to see the now-deleted threat and attacks on my life in response to a story about Juneteenth, a national holiday that recognizes the ending of slavery in America,” she said. “Feedback and thoughts on policy are one thing, but to make a public call for lethal violence is absolutely unacceptable and dangerous. We must recognize our shared humanity and reject violence in all forms.”

She thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and law enforcement for their “swift response.”

Following Crosby’s comments, social media users called for a boycott of his contracting business, Crosby Home Improvements.

The Binghamton City Democratic Committee also called for an investigation into the incident before his arrest.

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The post ‘Proud to hang her from a tree’: Man arrested for threatening Black Senator appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

Based on reporting by Atlanta Daily World.

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CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations

NEW YORK CARIB NEWS — Outgoing CARICOM Chairman Terrance Drew called on regional leaders to build a stronger and more effective Caribbean Community that benefits future generations. Speaking at the 51st Regular Meeting, Drew urged modernization of governance structures and improved implementation of Community decisions to make CARICOM safer and more prosperous.
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July 8, 2026

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Speaking Sunday at the opening of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Saint Lucia, Dr. Terrance Drew said the region must modernize its governance structures, improve the implementation of Community decisions, and ensure CARICOM becomes safer, more prosperous, and more relevant to the lives of its citizens.

The meeting, being held under the theme “CARICOM: From Resilience to Renewal in a Changing World,” coincides with the Community’s 53rd anniversary. During the ceremony, Dr. Drew formally handed over the rotating CARICOM chairmanship to Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre.

Reflecting on his six-month tenure as chairman, Drew praised fellow regional leaders for maintaining their commitment to democracy, good governance, unity, and the rule of law despite mounting global economic and geopolitical challenges.

“Throughout these challenges, CARICOM chose engagement over isolation. Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to a fair and rules-based international trading system and ensured that the interests of small developing states continued to be heard.”
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He highlighted progress made in strengthening the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, including deeper trade cooperation, expanded labour mobility, and efforts to lay the foundation for long-term economic growth. Drew also noted the Community’s growing partnerships beyond the Caribbean, particularly with the African Union, while stressing that every international partnership should advance the interests of all parties involved.

The outgoing chairman also expressed appreciation to Dr. Carla Barnett and the CARICOM Secretariat for their professionalism and unwavering support during his tenure.

“Whenever I called, you answered. Whenever support was required, you and your team responded with diligence, competence, and excellence.”

Dr. Drew urged the Secretariat to continue preserving its impartiality while faithfully implementing decisions made by Heads of Government, saying that balance has helped strengthen the regional integration movement.

The conference continues in Saint Lucia with regional leaders expected to deliberate on key issues including regional security, climate resilience, trade, economic integration, food security, Haiti, reparations, and strengthening the CSME.

Based on reporting by New York Carib News.

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