Many Black families, including my own, chose Birmingham. Even when the opportunity to move south or east or north of the city presented itself, they stayed put. Black people owning land in Birmingham is a protest. It’s also an act of radical pride because these are the people that stabilized communities and held Birmingham together. They provided the springboard for this “boom” that the publications y’all pitch, write about. Where is their benefit?

There are about 150,000 Black people in Birmingham yet ecosystem gatekeepers, including the Black ones, recycle the same 10 or so. It’s not like the rest of us aren’t talented and worthy. I’d argue that we’re more talented and worthy. But through corporate recruitment, advertising, and hiring, native Black Birminghamians are consistently told they are not entitled to the fruits of theirs and their ancestors’ labor. Are we invited to rooftops to discuss our business needs and ideas? Are we eligible for incentives? Where are our introductions to corporate executives?

Who gets to be an entrepreneur? Who’s allowed to pursue the “American Dream” instead of just providing the labor for someone else to pursue theirs?

Folks want to stand upstream waiting for the next big fish to jump out but no one wants to be downstream putting in the work. The work that takes more than 4 years to manifest. The work that is restorative and just. Couple that with the erroneous yet pervasive belief that Birmingham doesn’t produce genius and the reality of two ecosystems persists. As does the question, who is this parade for?