#demopolis

[justdownthecreek]

White Cliffs of Epes, AL on the Tombigbee River

[ideastraveller]

Demopolis Lake, Alabama Complete Guide

Demopolis Lake, Alabama Complete Guide

Demopolis Lake is a reservoir located near the city of Demopolis in Marengo County. The 10,000-acre reservoir is the second largest lake in the Black Warrior-Tombigbee system. There’s something special about Demopolis Lake. Maybe it’s the way the sun reflects off the water, or the way the trees seem to whisper in the breeze. Whatever it is, spending time at Demopolis Lake is sure to be a relaxing…

[ltwilliammowett]

The Tombigbee River Phantom

The Eliza Battle was a sidewheel steamer, launched in New Albany, Indiana in 1852, which travelled regularly on the Tombigbee River between Columbus, Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama in the United States in the 1850s. She did the same in February 1858.

Advertising for the Eliza Battle

Captained by S. Graham Stone and piloted by Daniel Epps, the Eliza Battle left Columbus with a crew of 45. The ship was only able to travel so far north on the Tombigbee when the river was regularly flooded in the winter months, and made stops at Pickensville, Gainesville, Demopolis and numerous small piers on its way downstream. When the ship left Demopolis on 28 February 1858, it was fully loaded with 60 passengers and more than 1200 bales of cotton. A strong northerly wind set in during the already cold night, and the air temperature dropped into the minus range in the two hours after dark.

At about 2 a.m. on 1 March 1858, about 32 miles (51 km) downriver from Demopolis, near Beckley's Landing, the watch noticed that some of the cotton bales stored between the main deck had caught fire due to being too tight and were now burning. The fire, which was partly due to the strong wind, soon got out of control. The boat drifted further downstream and got out of control. Cut off from the lifeboat by the flames, the passengers, some of whom were clad only in their nightwear, were forced to go into the river to escape the flames. Some survived by floating on bales of cotton, hoping not to freeze in the sub-zero temperatures, but for many this was not the case. The Eliza Battle eventually came to rest above Kemp's Landing and sank to a depth of 8.5 metres. The few survivors were rescued by local residents, 33 or 45 of whom lost their lives in the freezing temperatures.

Eliza battle Tombigbee River 1858, by Ralph Richards

Now the Eliza Battle is no ordinary shipwreck, on the contrary she is said to surface regularly in February as a burning phantom trying to finish her route. But she often fails. She is also supposed to try to lure unsuspecting people who see her and want to help, because she is obviously in distress, and drag them down with her.

[ce-sac-contient]

Andrew Moore - Bottles Corner, Demopolis, Alabama, 2017 

Archival pigment print (127 x 102 cm)

[finnglas]

I don't want to hijack this very good post [link] about disability and Helen Keller but it sparked my ADHD brain down a semi-related path, and I wanted to share a favorite Helen Keller story, so I made my own post.

Helen Keller, like me, was from Alabama, so growing up she was one of the historical figures I had to learn about a lot. (Do kids still focus on learning important people from their home state or was that just an 80s/pre-Bush thing?)

I lived near the old site of what was called the Rooster Bridge, near Demopolis, so-called because a lot of famous people auctioned off roosters in order to be able to finance the bridge. (Even the President donated a rooster!) And to prove that old-timey people were exactly as dirty-minded as they are today, the joke was that they were going to build a bridge across the Tombigbee "with their cocks."

Now, Helen Keller, being a VERY vocal part of the feminist movement in the South--yes, my girl was a lifelong activist and a huge part of the push to allow women to vote--also vocally objected to this masculine focus and very deliberately donated a little blue hen on behalf of the women's suffrage movement.

I've always loved that the historical marker reads "600 roosters (and one hen from Helen Keller)".

Anyway. I always thought it was cute. I feel like I could've had a good time hanging out with her.

[truecrimecrystals]

Shannon Steele was murdered at the age of 29 on December 28th, 2017. The young woman lived in Demopolis, Alabama at the time of her death. Shannon was found deceased inside the residence that she shared with her young children. She had been shot to death by her killer(s).  

Police went to Shannon's residence shortly after 3:10 PM on the day of her murder. According to reports, an officer went to the apartment on Queensbury Lane to "serve papers to someone there." The officer unexpectedly encountered a 4-year-old boy at the residence, who said that someone killed his mother. 

Police subsequently entered the home and found Shannon's body in a back bedroom. It was determined that she had been fatally shot. It also appeared that her murder occurred in front of her two youngest children: her 4-year-old son, who led police to his mother's body, and her 4-month-old daughter, who was found physically unharmed in that same back bedroom. Shannon's two older children were not home at the time of the killing. 

Years have passed, and Shannon's murder remains unsolved. Her children and several other loved ones are left without answers. Shannon had spent the Christmas holiday with her family just days before her murder. Her family members never expected that the holiday celebration would be the last time they'd see Shannon alive. 

There is very little information available about the investigation into Shannon's murder. In 2020, WVUA 23 reported that that a total of $20,000 is available for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of her killer(s). If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact Demopolis Police Department at (334) 289-3073 or the DPD Tip Line at (334) 216-4077.

[eahostudiogallery]

Glasses full

Janet Fish - Five Tall Glasses, Afternoon

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Javier Mulio

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Lucille Sevin

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Shigeo Fukuda

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Tina Engel 2023

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René Lalique - 11-eyed blue-glass flacon

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Janet Fish - Tequila Bottles, 1974

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Hennie Elzinga

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Andrew Moore - Bottles Corner, Demopolis, Alabama

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Cy Twombly, 1951

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Teddi Parker

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Sir William Nicholson - The Glass Bowl, 1920

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unknown illustration

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Vincent van Grog

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 Dawn Reed - Five of my favourites 

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René Lalique

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still life with Aaltos

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Wednesday: swearing a blue streak

[goalhofer]

Gaineswood in Demopolis, Alabama.

[justdownthecreek]

White Cliffs of Epes, AL on the Tombigbee River

[stranotizie]

L'Istituto diretto da Pietro Vento ha analizzato gli ultimi 12 mesi nella memoria dell'opinione pubblica Il sondaggio Demopolis Che cosa resta del 2023 nella memoria degli italiani? L’evento di cronaca più citato è l’uccisione di Giulia Cecchettin, con il successivo movimento d’opinione contro la violenza sulle donne: lo indica il 60%. Per oltre il 50% a caratterizzare l’anno che si chiude sono stati soprattutto il perdurare dell’inflazione, con l’aumento del costo della vita, e gli eventi climatici estremi, a partire dall’alluvione in Romagna. Più di un terzo dei cittadini cita anche la cattura e la successiva morte del capo di Cosa Nostra Matteo Messina Denaro. È quanto emerge dal sondaggio di fine anno dell’Istituto Demopolis, diretto da Pietro Vento, che ha analizzato gli ultimi 12 mesi nella memoria dell’opinione pubblica. L'indagine è stata effettuata dall’Istituto Demopolis su un campione nazionale di 2.000 intervistati, statisticamente rappresentativo dell’universo della popolazione italiana maggiorenne. Rilevazione demoscopica del 20-22/12/2023.Politica L’anno politico in Italia è stato contraddistinto per il 54% degli italiani dal progressivo consolidamento del ruolo di Giorgia Meloni. 4 intervistati su 10 citano la scomparsa di Silvio Berlusconi, il 25% l’arrivo a sorpresa di Elly Schlein alla guida del Pd, con la vittoria alle Primarie, secondo quanto emerge dal sondaggio. EsteriA segnare invece il 2023 nel mondo, per oltre l’80% degli italiani intervistati dall’Istituto Demopolis, è stato il violento attacco terroristico di Hamas e la pesante risposta di Israele con l’esplosione del conflitto nella Striscia di Gaza. Il 66% ricorda il perdurare della guerra in Ucraina, mentre circa un terzo segnala il crescente peso internazionale dei Brics (gruppo di Paesi formato da Brasile, Russia, India, Cina e Sudafrica), sempre più in competizione con il blocco occidentale costituito da Stati Uniti ed Europa. Il 33% mette in evidenza l’uso su vasta scala dell’intelligenza artificiale. Personaggio dell'anno Per gli italiani il personaggio dell’anno è Jannik Sinner, emblema della rinascita del tennis italiano. Sinner, citato dal 48%, supera la Premier Giorgia Meloni, indicata dal 40% degli intervistati. Il terzo gradino del podio lo conquista Paola Cortellesi, protagonista assoluta del film più visto del 2023 in Italia. Quali sono gli stati d’animo prevalenti negli italiani alla fine del 2023? L’incertezza è il sentimento preponderante, citato dal 51% degli intervistati, che prevale sulla speranza e sul senso di stanchezza dichiarato oggi da oltre un terzo degli italiani, secondo quanto emerge dal sondaggio di fine anno dell’Istituto Demopolis. {} #_intcss0{display: none;} #U1148571700IUB { font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; } #U114857170010 { font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; } #U1148571700L1 { font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; } #U1148571700R7H { font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; } Fonte

[jeeve05]

The Impact of Urban Renewal on African American Communities

Urban renewal programs have had a profound impact on African American communities in the United States. These programs, implemented between 1949 and 1974, were intended to revitalize cities and address housing shortages. However, the consequences of these initiatives were far-reaching, resulting in the displacement of thousands of families, the destruction of neighborhoods, and the loss of community and cultural heritage.

This article will outline history and effects of urban renewal on African American communities, highlighting the systemic racism and economic interests that fuelled these programs. It will also look at the long-lasting consequences of these actions and the challenges faced by African Americans in accessing safe and thriving neighbourhoods. By understanding the complexities and injustices of urban renewal, we can potentially work towards creating a more equitable and inclusive housing system for all Americans. The content of this article was written with the help of lectures from two of my professors, and two articles that we were given as extra reading.

Historical Context: Crowded and Overcrowded Black Neighbourhoods

In the aftermath of World War II, many American cities faced a housing crunch, particularly in overcrowded Black neighborhoods. Segregated neighborhoods in the North became increasingly crowded as African Americans migrated in search of manufacturing jobs and to escape the South's oppressive Jim Crow system. These overcrowded conditions led to exorbitant rents, substandard housing, and strained public services.

At the same time, cities were grappling with fiscal challenges. The economic exuberance of the 1920s had left many cities heavily indebted, and the Great Depression further strained their budgets. The New Deal and defense contracts during World War II provided temporary relief, but cities still struggled to generate sufficient tax revenue to meet growing demands.

The Birth of Urban Renewal: A Solution or Displacement?

Recognizing the need for comprehensive urban redevelopment, the federal government introduced urban renewal programs through the Housing Act of 1949. These programs aimed to address housing shortages and stimulate economic growth by providing federal funding to cities for slum clearance and redevelopment projects.

Initially, the focus was on creating public housing and demolishing neglected and overcrowded neighborhoods. However, as the program evolved, the emphasis shifted towards commercial redevelopment, driven by the interests of private developers and city officials. This change in focus had significant implications for African American communities.

Displacement of African American Families

Urban renewal projects disproportionately targeted African American neighborhoods, resulting in the displacement of thousands of families. Federal subsidies supported more than 1,200 projects in over 400 cities, towns, and suburbs, displacing a minimum of 300,000 families. African Americans, who constituted just 13 percent of the population in 1960, made up at least 55 percent of those displaced.

Large cities like New York and Washington, D.C. saw massive clearance and redevelopment projects that uprooted entire communities. In New York City, the Lincoln Square project displaced over 4,000 families, many of whom were recent arrivals from Puerto Rico. In Washington, D.C., the Southwest projects displaced more than 4,000 families, predominantly African American.

However, it is important to note that small cities also experienced significant displacement. Places like Greenville, North Carolina; Tupelo, Mississippi; and Demopolis, Alabama saw the destruction of predominantly Black neighborhoods and the displacement of numerous families. The scale of displacement was staggering, and the consequences were deeply felt by those who lost their homes and communities.

Destruction of Businesses and Cultural Heritage

The impact of urban renewal extended beyond residential displacement. Many thriving businesses, community institutions, and cultural landmarks were also destroyed in the name of redevelopment. In neighborhoods like the Lincoln Square project in New York City, over 600 businesses were razed, erasing the commercial and cultural fabric of the community.

Business owners, particularly those from marginalized communities, faced significant challenges in the aftermath of displacement. Relocation assistance grants provided by the government often fell short of the actual costs of moving and reopening businesses. Many small businesses were unable to recover, leading to economic decline and the loss of vital community resources.

Furthermore, the destruction of neighborhoods resulted in the loss of cultural heritage and community cohesion. African American neighborhoods, such as Black Bottom in Detroit and Five Points in Augusta, were rich with history, tradition, and a sense of rootedness. The destruction of these neighborhoods had a profound impact on the social fabric and collective memory of African American communities.

Unequal Treatment and Consequences

Urban renewal programs revealed stark racial disparities in treatment and outcomes. While slumlords and property owners received compensation for their properties, renters, who were often African American, received minimal assistance. Relocation grants were insufficient, and many families were left to navigate the challenges of finding new housing on their own.

The lack of tracking and accountability further exacerbated the challenges faced by displaced families. Many families fell through the cracks, with no record of their whereabouts or compensation. This lack of oversight perpetuated systemic inequalities and denied justice to those affected by urban renewal.

Long-Term Effects: Displacement and Gentrification

The effects of urban renewal continue to reverberate in African American communities today. Displacement and the loss of affordable housing have contributed to the perpetuation of racial inequalities and the erosion of wealth within these communities. African Americans face greater challenges in accessing homeownership and affordable rental housing, resulting in a persistent wealth gap compared to their white counterparts.

Furthermore, the redevelopment and gentrification that often followed urban renewal projects have further marginalized African American communities. The influx of wealthier residents and rising property values have led to the displacement of long-time residents and the loss of community cohesion. Neighborhoods that were once vibrant and culturally significant have been transformed into exclusive enclaves, pushing African Americans to the margins.

Toward a More Equitable Housing System

To address the historical injustices and ongoing challenges faced by African American communities, it is crucial to pursue policies that promote equitable access to housing and address systemic racism. Efforts should focus on expanding affordable housing options, dismantling exclusionary zoning practices, and promoting inclusive community development.

Civil rights enforcement in the housing market should be strengthened to combat discrimination and ensure fair treatment for all Americans. Additionally, initiatives that support economic empowerment and wealth building within African American communities can help address the long-term effects of displacement and inequality.

By learning from the mistakes of urban renewal and taking proactive measures to promote housing justice, we can work towards a more equitable and inclusive housing system that recognizes and respects the rights and dignity of all individuals and communities.

Conclusion

Urban renewal programs have had a profound and lasting impact on African American communities in the United States. These programs, implemented between 1949 and 1974, resulted in the displacement of thousands of families, the destruction of neighborhoods, and the loss of cultural heritage and community cohesion.

The disproportionate targeting of African American neighborhoods and the lack of adequate assistance and oversight have perpetuated systemic inequalities and contributed to the wealth gap between African Americans and their white counterparts. The long-term effects of displacement and gentrification continue to marginalize African American communities and erode their access to safe and thriving neighborhoods.

To address these challenges, it is essential to pursue policies that promote equitable access to housing, dismantle exclusionary practices, and strengthen civil rights enforcement in the housing market. By working towards a more inclusive and just housing system, we can begin to rectify the injustices of the past and create opportunities for all Americans to live in safe, thriving communities.

Sources

Lecture by Professor Zoey Hyman of UCL

Lecture by Professor Nick Witham of UCL

[goalhofer]

Washington St. in Demopolis, Alabama (year unknown).

[jmovielover]

Max Originals (Part 2

Charm City Kings (October 8 2020) "Fourteen-year-old Mouse wants to join the Midnight Clique, a notorious group of Baltimore dirt bike riders." Directed by Angel Manuel Soto

The Witches (October 22 2023) "In late 1967, a young orphaned boy goes to live with his loving grandma in the rural Alabama town of Demopolis. As the boy and his grandmother encounter some deceptively glamorous but thoroughly diabolical witches, she wisely whisks him away to a seaside resort. Regrettably, they arrive at precisely the same time that the world's Grand High Witch has gathered her fellow cronies from around the globe to carry out her nefarious plans." (Directed by Robert Zemeckis)

Superintelligence (November 26 2020) "When a powerful superintelligence chooses to study Carol, the most average person on Earth, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. As the AI decides whether to enslave, save or destroy humanity, it's up to Carol to prove people are worth saving." (Directed by Ben Falcone)

The Flight Attendant (November 26 2020-May 26 2022; 2 seasons) "A flight attendant's life gets turned upside down after she wakes up in a hotel room with a dead man but with no memory of what happened." (Developed by Steve Yockey)

Let Them All Talk (December 10 2020) "A young man finds romance with a literary agent while taking a trip with the woman's famous aunt and her friends." (Directed by Steven Soderbergh)

[roma-sera-giornale]

SONDAGGIO: IL 73% DEGLI ITALIANI BOCCIA L’OPPOSIZIONE: PD PEGGIO DEL MOVIMENTO 5 STELLE.

Gli italiani promuovono Giorgia Meloni e bocciano Schlein e Conte.

Sondaggio Demopolis per Otto e Mezzo a La7. Gli italiani promuovono Giorgia Meloni e bocciano Schlein e Conte. Un anno di Governo: voti severi ma positivi per Giorgia Meloni anche se meno positivi per il Governo; giudizi impietosi nei confronti dell’intera opposizione. Siamo a La7 e ad annunciare questi numeri è proprio Lilli Gruber, mai troppo morbida con la Meloni e con il centrodestra.…

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