Diversity Avenue

Diversity Avenue Birmingham, AL 35215

I was raised and lived all of my life in a homogenous neighborhood. The diversity I experienced was at school or work. When I decided to continue and finally finish my degree, I wanted to attend UAB. I must say that Birmingham’s reputation, outside of Birmingham, is not favorable. All of my family and friends thought I was crazy for wanting to move here. My husband and I began looking for houses with three requirements, safety, price, and proximity to UAB. Ethnic make-up was never a factor. We found our house on 26th Ave NW in the Center Point/Pinson area. The neighborhood is old, from the late 50’s, the houses are brick, and the yards are mostly landscaped and neat. We felt good about the house and neighborhood and moved in last October to the most diversified street in Birmingham, if not America, both racially and generationally, which is extremely interesting. Our neighbors to our left are an African American nuclear family. Mom, Dad, pre-teen son, teenage daughter. When we were moving in they came by to welcome us to the neighborhood, and to make sure we were moving in and not just fixing up to rent out. Our neighbor to our right is a Caucasian, 81 year old widower. He came over as well, welcoming and confirming our intentions. Everyone seems much happier that we are actually living in the house and not renting it out. Across the street is a young African American male and next door to him are two middle-aged Caucasian females, elderly mother and her middle aged daughter. A few houses down is a Hispanic family with which I have seen at least three young children. Next door to them is another original member of the neighborhood. A Caucasian couple in their 80’s. We met him last weekend and he relayed the following about his Hispanic neighbor. Last summer, he was sick and his yard showed it. His Hispanic neighbor came over and maintained his yard, at no cost and continued to do so until the elderly man was well enough to take care of it himself. The Hispanic neighbor also gave the elderly man seeds from some peppers he commented on. The elderly man has a greenhouse and has them planted for the Hispanic man to put out into his garden when the weather clears.
The generational diversity and their acceptance of other ethnic groups have really surprised me. This is a generation who lived thru and may have participated in the civil rights era, yet both men seem open and accepting of all groups. This really shatters the stereotype that all of the elderly are racist and cannot accept change.
I moved to Birmingham with certain expectations, mostly with the idea that I would be isolated with a healthy fear. I had spent many weeks preparing myself for this. Yet, I have experienced a kind of “reverse” culture shock. I was expecting one extreme and found another. However, I realize that not all neighborhoods are as good as mine, the people in my neighborhood, people at UAB, even people on the street are nice. People wave, are courteous, and I believe I have made some friends for life here. It feels a lot like home. I can’t wait for spring and summer so I can meet more of my neighbors and get to know the ones I have already met better.