The Road to Birmingham

By Sharon Smith

Welcome to The Road to Birmingham. You will encounter many things along the way. Your trip will begin with a glimpse into some of the most controversial traditions that have shaped the history of Birmingham, Alabama. Your journey will end at "the little white house in Birmingham," which is appropriately located at the intersection of Homophobia Lane and Hypocrisy Street.

The Road to Birmingham is an emotionally charged account of my own personal experiences prior to and following the death of my wife in 2012. To help other GLBT couples protect their relationships and avoid the things I experienced, I set out on The Road to Birmingham. It started as a journey to inform other GLBT couples and tell my side of a story that ended tragically. It became my road to healing, peace, and forgiveness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312683112

Book preview

The Road to Birmingham

The Road to Birmingham

by

Sharon D. Smith

Also by Sharon D. Smith

Love and Liberation (2007)

Strapped (2009)

Still Strapped (2011)

Coming Soon

Morning Coffee

Strapless

Just Write the Book and Quit Making Excuses

The Road to Birmingham

by

Sharon D. Smith

Copyright © 2014 by Sharon D. Smith

All rights reserved

ISBN 9781312683112

Manufactured in the USA

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, scanning, or otherwise, without the expressed, written consent of the author, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in a review. The situations described in this book are based on historical information and the author's actual, first hand experiences. Some names have been changed. Photographs are not copyrighted by any professional photographer or studio.

Edited by Sharon D. Smith, MSIOP, MAOM.

Cover Photography by

Annamadit Photography & Graphics, Atlanta

Want to know more? Visit  Facebook/AuthorSharonDSmith or follow us on

Twitter @Strapped2009.

In Loving Memory

This book is written in memory of my wife, LaShundria Shun Dansby Smith, and the strength and courage she displayed while battling breast cancer.  LaShundria, or Larry as some of our close friends called her, made her transition from this earthly place to her rightful place in Heaven on January 11, 2012.

LaShundria was more than just a friend, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, and confidant. She was the unique glue that somehow held our circle of friends and family together and reminded us to love one another. In times of need, she was there for so many people. Her words of encouragement, her willingness to lend a helping hand, and the special way she loved up on you made even the darkest days and nights seem full of light and hope and love.

Shun taught us so much in her short time on this earth. She loved unconditionally. We are charged to do the same, no matter where our journey takes us.

Table of Contents

Birmingham

The First Marshmallow

God Called

The Taking of Roswell 363

Death and Drama

Mama

Along Came Spring

Insanity and Cats

Progress

We Can’t Wait

The Take Away

That Little White House

Special Thanks

About the Author

Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, the heart of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s is where my story begins.  It’s only fitting that a book like this would have its roots in Birmingham, even though much of the story takes place across state lines.  As I ponder which recent chapters from my life should make it onto these sacred pages, I can’t help but think about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the struggles he endured just in Birmingham.

King was persecuted by White Americans, arrested, mocked by some of Malcolm X’s followers and other leaders, and repeatedly asked to stop his incessant appeal for civil rights for Blacks. Some clergymen, who you’d think might show some level of impartiality and love, jumped on the campaign to oppress and discriminate against Blacks and made it difficult for King to spread his message of non-violence and civil rights. King’s response to all of these appeals was delivered with eloquence, respect, and impatience in his Letter from the Birmingham Jail.  He simply stated when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of ‘nobodyness,’  people will understand why it is impossible to stop fighting, to stop hoping, and to stop marching forward.  Despite the racial tensions and turmoil in the streets, King held out hope that Birmingham and the surrounding cities of Selma, Montgomery, and others could mean change, freedom, and inclusiveness for Black Americans.

Birmingham is more than just a reminder of a time when churches were burned to the ground and Jim Crow laws governed the people.  Birmingham represents everything that is still wrong with our nation today and the struggles people have to go through just because of who they are.  Some of its citizens still look at you as if every store, gas station, or restaurant is a lunch counter and you, a Black American, being there is an insult to their race and their Christian values. Birmingham represents continued hatred, intolerance, hypocrisy, and bitterness. This is especially true when it comes to the GLBT community.

The mayor of Birmingham, Larry Langford, was bold enough to petition a federal court to dismiss a gay rights advocacy group’s claim that he discriminated against the group when he refused to allow city officials to hang banners promoting a gay pride event.  The Alabama Department of Education has policies to address bullying students based on race, gender, sex, national origin, and religion, but there is absolutely no mention of bullying students based on their sexual orientation or sexual identity.  I guess it wasn't a huge issue in 1960s America, but I'm sure all of the people