Tuscaloosa's Black Excellence Celebration

03/10/2025

In 2022, We had an opportunity to celebrate Black Excellence in Tuscaloosa as we honored our local entrepreneurs and business owners.

It's time to do it again & do it bigger.
Stay tuned!!!

03/10/2025

In honor of , TAVM will highlight African American people, places, and history for and Northport.

Police line the sidewalk as civil rights activists approach the new Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, protesting the "whites only" signs over water fountains and restrooms.

The march came after T. Y. Rogers called a meeting at the First African Baptist Church on April 20, 1964. The march was part of the plan designed to fight the city's insistence on discriminatory signage specifically in the new courthouse.

🔗https://tavm.omeka.net/exhibits/show/african-american-history/item/292

03/10/2025

In honor of , TAVM will highlight African American people, places, and history for and Northport. This is the final post for February. ❤️ We hope you've enjoyed our community's contribution to Black History Month and it has provided some insight into our vast and varied local history.

Arlington L. Freeman Sr., known to most as A. L. Freeman, died in 2003 at 69.

Freeman was a Fayette County farm boy who dedicated his life to creating recreational opportunities for Tuscaloosa youths. For 37 years, until his 1996 retirement, Freeman worked in local recreation – first for the city of Tuscaloosa’s recreation department then Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority when it was created in 1969.

He headed the organization’s athletic leagues and youth programs for many years and worked for the development of two west Tuscaloosa parks, one at 18th Street and 30th Avenue, which was named for him after his retirement, and Palmore Park. His focus was squarely on increasing opportunities for west Tuscaloosa residents, a cause he advocated until his death.

The A.L. Freeman Park was renovated in 2002; it is now a 3-acre park and provides playgrounds and picnic areas, a shelter, rock walls, exploration in unique tubes and climbing loop ladders. There is also a recreational pool featuring a water play area.

Freeman’s efforts on behalf of inner-city neighborhoods earned him statewide acclaim and in 1991, he received a special service award from the state parks and recreation association.

🔗https://tavm.omeka.net/exhibits/show/african-american-history/item/1098

02/02/2024

06/13/2022

Archibald's BBQ, which opened in 1962 in Northport and counted Bear Bryant as a loyal customer, celebrates 60 years of ribs and barbecue this year.

05/20/2022

A statue of Tuscaloosa heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder will be unveiled May 25 outside the offices of Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports.

05/19/2022

The first Black department head in the City of Tuscaloosa’s history passed this week.

Richard A. Curry, Jr. was the former head of Tuscaloosa’s Environmental Services Department. He was first hired by the city in 1977 at an entry level position. He became the director in 1992 and retired from the city in 2005.

The original 345,000 square-foot, which was named the Richard A. Curry, Jr. Environmental Services Building in his honor, was destroyed in the April 27, 2011 tornado and replaced with a newer state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2014 and also features a recycling education center, where everything from environmentally-focused movies to classes are held.

Take your rest, Richard A. Curry, Jr.!

03/27/2022

Congrats to all of the nominees!!

A special shout out to Kerri Ash and Ro Monroe for coming together helping create this event!! We definitely appreciate you both. 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 I’ve definitely learned a lot from you beautiful queens!!!

03/26/2022

Congratulations to all of our nominees!

We would like to thank the community for nominating our businesses & entrepreneurs. Thank you for supporting this effort! Help us celebrate the 2021 winners of the Inaugural Tuscaloosa's Black Excellence Celebration.

We look forward to making this effort bigger and better with your support!
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If you were unable to attend, please make plans to see Finley Brown at I-Cell Mobile on 69S to retrieve your award certificate.

03/25/2022

Congratulations to all of our nominees!

We would like to acknowledge the top nominees receiving the highest number of community nominations.

EXCELLENT BUSINESS MAN OF THE YEAR
(in no particular order):
▪︎ Harvey Logan
▪︎ Cassius Lanier
▪︎ LaQuintan Toney
▪︎ Corace Stewart
▪︎ Derrick Montgomery

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Join us in saluting all of these businesses & help us celebrate the Top Nominee on Fri., March 25, 2022 at 7pm at the McKinstry Banquet Hall during the Inaugural Tuscaloosa's Black Excellence Celebration.

03/25/2022

Congratulations to all of our nominees!

We would like to acknowledge the top nominees receiving the highest number of community nominations.

EXCELLENT BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR
(in no particular order):
▪︎ Alisha Stanton
▪︎ Erica Grant
▪︎ Tekilua Thomas

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Join us in saluting all of these businesses & help us celebrate the Top Nominee on Fri., March 25, 2022 at 7pm at the McKinstry Banquet Hall during the Inaugural Tuscaloosa's Black Excellence Celebration.