The city of Birmingham is preparing for a season of remembrance, celebration, and civic engagement as it marks pivotal moments in Black American history and culture. This spring and summer, three major events are converging: a landmark art exhibition at the Birmingham Museum of Art, the 63rd anniversary celebration of the Children’s Crusade, and a highly anticipated town hall with U.S. Senator Cory Booker. Together, these events underscore Birmingham’s enduring legacy as a crucible of social change and a center for ongoing dialogue about justice, identity, and the power of community.
On April 30, 2026, the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) announced it will unveil its Black American art collection to the public this September. The exhibition, titled “Roll Call: Two Hundred Years of Black American Art,” will showcase 99 works that trace two centuries of Black artistic production in the United States. According to BMA, this is one of the most significant collections of Black American art in the country, and the timing is no accident—it coincides with the museum’s 75th anniversary, making it a dual celebration of institutional history and cultural achievement.
Since 1971, the BMA has been quietly building its collection, amassing more than 1,000 works by 250 Black artists. The upcoming exhibition draws exclusively from this permanent collection, reflecting decades of intentional acquisition and community partnership. The show is organized into four thematic sections: “The Ground We Stand On,” which highlights foundational moments in the museum’s history and key early acquisitions; “Ujima: Collective Work and Responsibility,” focusing on the role of community advocacy; “What Freedom Feels Like,” where artists explore lived experience and political consciousness through a variety of visual languages; and “In the Heart of It All,” examining the significance of place with works inspired by Alabama and Birmingham that link local stories to broader national currents.
Jade Powers, the Hugh Kaul Curator of Contemporary Art at BMA, explained the exhibition’s significance, saying, “Roll Call reflects both the artistic brilliance of Black artists and the ways a museum collection evolves through intentional choices and community engagement. The exhibition highlights moments when artists, curators, and advocates came together to expand the stories our collection tells.” Powers emphasized that the show is not just a retrospective, but a living testament to the ongoing work of representation and inclusion. “The exhibition reflects the cumulative impact of artists, curators and community members whose decisions and advocacy have expanded what is represented here. It is, in many ways, a measure of how far the museum has come and a reminder that this work is ongoing.”
“Roll Call: Two Hundred Years of Black American Art” will be open to the public from September 26, 2026, through January 17, 2027, inviting visitors to reflect on the rich tapestry of Black creativity and the evolving role of museums as stewards of cultural memory.
While the BMA looks back across two centuries of artistic achievement, Birmingham’s Historic 4th Avenue Business District is preparing to honor a more recent—yet equally transformative—moment in the city’s history. On May 2, 2026, the Civil Rights Activists Committee will host the Foot Soldiers’ 63rd Anniversary celebration, commemorating the Birmingham Children’s Crusade of 1963. This eight-day protest, launched exactly 63 years ago, saw more than 5,000 Black youth between the ages of 4 and 18 march against segregation. Their courage in the face of police dogs, firehoses, and nightsticks—unleashed by the city’s commissioner of public safety, Eugene “Bull” Connor—shocked the nation and helped catalyze the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The anniversary event promises to be both a tribute and a call to action. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., attendees will enjoy musical performances, guest speakers, and educational booths representing Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods. The Youth Legacy Zone will feature artwork and storytelling projects from local teens, offering a bridge between the city’s storied past and its vibrant present. The day will conclude with a candlelit unity walk—an opportunity for participants to honor the original foot soldiers and reflect on the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.
Terry Collins, a committee member who was just 15 when he marched in the original Children’s Crusade, spoke passionately about the need for unity and vigilance. “What we have to do is to become more unified than we are,” Collins said. “The privileges today will sometimes cloud your thinking, to think that you have everything you deserve. And that’s not true, because there is discrimination going on all the time.” Collins hopes the event will inspire today’s youth to recognize their own power to effect change. “I want them to have a sense of pride in who they are and their heritage. The legacy of the march itself is that the children of the day came together and withstood the test and broke the backs of tyranny not only in Birmingham, but as a result of that, the movement went all across the country.”
As Birmingham reflects on its legacy of activism and artistic achievement, the city is also looking ahead to new conversations about the challenges facing the nation. On Monday, May 4, 2026, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) will visit Birmingham for a rescheduled town hall with Blueprint Alabama, a statewide group focused on civic participation and policy advocacy. The event, which begins at 6 p.m. (with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.), is free and open to the public, though space is limited and RSVP is required. The exact location will be shared with confirmed attendees 48 hours prior to the event.
Senator Booker, who has represented New Jersey in the U.S. Senate since 2013, expressed his eagerness to engage directly with Alabama residents. “I’m excited to return to Alabama, because the people of Alabama are no strangers to confronting the kind of moral moment America is in right now,” Booker said. “In every part of our country, Americans are facing the same kinds of hardships: struggling to get by, disgusted by the corruption in our political system, and yearning for bold change.” He added, “That’s why I’m looking forward to joining Alabamians for a conversation about the challenges we’re facing, the importance of organizing everywhere to create change in our communities, and how we stand up together to chart a better path forward for our country.”
Josh Coleman, co-founder of Blueprint Alabama, sees the town hall as a vital opportunity for civic renewal. “This moment demands more than politics as usual, it demands leadership, courage, and real connection with people on the ground. Senator Booker brings all of that, and the fact that he’s coming to Birmingham speaks volumes about the importance of this moment and the power of our community,” Coleman said. He emphasized that at a time when many feel unheard, the event is about “reigniting hope, building power, and reminding people that their voices still have the ability to shape the future.”
As the city marks these anniversaries and hosts national leaders, Birmingham stands at the intersection of memory and momentum—honoring its past, celebrating its culture, and inviting new voices into the conversation about what comes next.