Panel Discussion in partnership with the City of Birmingham Office of Public Affairs

In recognition of Black History Month, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, in partnership with the City of Birmingham’s Office of Public Affairs, will present Mapping Black Migration, a dynamic panel discussion examining the historical and contemporary movements of Black Americans. The program will explore the Great Migration—when millions of Black families left the South in search of opportunity—and the growing phenomenon of Reverse Black Migration, as individuals and families return to Southern cities like Birmingham for economic, cultural, and community renewal.

Anchored by Isabel Wilkerson’s seminal work, The Warmth of Other Suns, the discussion will use the book as a catalyst to connect personal narratives, historical context, and present-day realities. Panelists will reflect on how migration has shaped Black identity, cities, and institutions, while also examining what these movements mean for Birmingham’s future. The program aims to foster intergenerational dialogue, deepen public understanding of Black history, and highlight Birmingham’s evolving role in the ongoing story of Black migration in America.

Panelists include:

Tiffani Saxton, Executive Director of Birmingham Corps 

Jessie Dunbar, Associate Professor, African American Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham 

Laurence Salvary, Market Activation Manager, Coca-Cola Bottling Company United inc. 

Asya Whitley, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner

Date: February 26, 2026

Time: Doors open at 5:00pm | Discussion begins at 5:30pm

Location: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Community Meeting Room

Click Here to Register