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BIRMINGHAM PLEDGE
The Birmingham Pledge Foundation is a grassroots effort to recognize the dignity and worth of every individual, by making a personal, daily commitment to remove prejudice from people’s lives and to treat all people with respect. In November 1997, inspired by the historic events in Birmingham during the civil rights movement, Birmingham attorney James E. Rotch composed a statement, a personal commitment, to recognize the importance of every individual, regardless of race or color. This commitment became The Birmingham Pledge, a movement initiated and promoted by the Community Affairs Committee of Operation New Birmingham to eliminate prejudice in Birmingham and throughout the world. Since its inception, the Birmingham Pledge has been signed more than one hundred thousand individuals on every continent of the globe who responded to this opportunity to declare a simple and personal commitment to honor the Pledge's goal to eliminate racism in the world one person at a time. In January 2000 a Joint Resolution of Congress was passed recognizing The Birmingham Pledge and in 2001, President George W. Bush proclaimed September 14 through 21 as National Birmingham Pledge Week, encouraging all citizens to join him by renewing their commitments to fight racism and uphold equal justice and opportunity. Birmingham ignited a fire that illuminated social injustice throughout the South and the nation as a whole. Today, the city once known for police dogs and bombings is at the center of efforts to remedy America's history of pervasive racial inequality through alliances once thought impossible.

 

The Birmingham Pledge reads as follows:

 I believe that every person has worth as an individual. I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color. I believe that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others. Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions. I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity. I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I will strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.

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BRIGHT BLUE DOT
 All around Birmingham on the bumpers of cars you’re likely to see the small red square stickers with a bright blue dot in the center, carrying the message: “another bright blue dot in a really red state.” The slogan represents the hopeful sentiment expressed by many Birmingham Democrats who often feel surrounded by a state full of Republicans. While mostly conservative Alabama citizens often vote Republican (red) in most elections, somewhat more liberal Birmingham residents typically vote Democrat (blue). Joellyn Beckham and her partner, Gina Williams, created the phrase and the sticker in the wake of the 2004 presidential election. Through their Birmingham-based Brite Blue Dot Company, they have sold thousands of the stickers nationwide as a brilliant, positive and tasteful answer to the black “W the President” stickers seen on many cars. Locally, the stickers sell at McNolia’s Cards and Gifts in Five Points South.

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