2023 Forging Justice Commemoration

View More In This Section

The City of Birmingham launched a yearlong poster series to commemorate the 1963 Birmingham campaign for civil and human rights 

For the entire year of 2023, the City of Birmingham – in partnership with area churches, arts organizations, activists, businesses, and nonprofits –  honored the challenges, lessons, and triumphs of the 1963 Birmingham civil and human rights movement. The 60th commemoration included programs, events, workshops, and entertainment that were open to the entire community.   

Click the image above to read about how the poster series came together.

The theme for the year was “Forging Justice.” Birmingham is known for its steel production and also its racial past. Today, however, just like steel melds together different elements to make a singular strong force, the city has worked to forge relationships among all races, religions, ethnicities, and creeds.   

The City’s role in the commemoration was to highlight and support the number of programs taking place during the year. Events included the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing commemoration, the Children’s March reenactment, a national convention of Black journalists, concerts, exhibits, a healing conference, and tributes to Dr. King and the Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth. Birmingham also hosted peacemakers from around the world with the International Peace Conference & Peace Week on May 1-5, 2023.   

The City launched a special commemorative poster series, created by Office of Public Information Graphic Designers Marcus Watts and Bre Rudolph. The purpose was to support storytelling themes for each month throughout the commemoration and to give the public a piece of art as a keepsake as we all reflect and remember the lessons of 1963.   

Here are the themes for each month and poster:  

  • January – Unity 
  • February – Black Resistance  
  • March – Women 
  • April – Clergy 
  • May – Children and Youth
  • June – Restorative Justice  
  • July – Environmental Justice  
  • August – Storytelling  
  • September – Civil and Human Rights 
  • October – Social Justice  
  • November – Arts and Culture 
  • December – Economic Opportunity  

MONTHLY POSTERS-COLLECT THEM ALL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

 

Please visit Birmingham 365

  • for information on events throughout the year.


Your search did not return any matching results. Please search again.
Your search did not return any matching results. Please search again.

For City of Birmingham updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and NextDoor. Text BHAMREADY to 888-777 for important city updates.