This compilation of articles was first printed in April 1960 by The Birmingham News and Birmingham Post Herald in order to counteract adverse publicity by The New York Times and The Washington Post regarding civil rights issues in Birmingham.
The campaign began by encouraging the public to tell positive stories about the city during what Tutwiler Hotel head Ira Patton called, “Operation Hospitality”. His wife suggested the slogan and the chamber inspired civic groups in the area to spread the message. By 1970, “It’s Nice to Live in Birmingham” was referred to as “the city’s slogan”. (Note that this book will not be available on Amazon. To purchase, please click HERE.)
The irony of the message was opposed by approximately 40% of Birmingham’s population, who fought back via demonstrations for equal access to the law and public facilities.
It’s interesting in retrospect to consider the progress Birmingham has made since then by considering the articles in this book. Editors Katie Tipton and Marjorie White suggest the following:
“Hopefully, we will continue to form concrete solutions. And in the spirit of renewing a “healthy spirit among ourselves,” let us think about how nice it is to live in Birmingham today.“
