Birmingham Times

Meet The Pioneering Queens of Hip-Hop

THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES — Women have always been integral to hip-hop, dating to its founding. Cindy Campbell, the sister of Clive Campbell—better known as hip-hop originator DJ Kool Herc—is considered the First Lady and Mother of Hip-Hop, after she organized a party in 1973 with her brother as the DJ. No one knew then that hip-hop would grow from a set of turntables in the recreation room at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in the Bronx into a multibillion-dollar business.

Published

7 years ago

November 28, 2019

BlackPressUSA

The Birmingham Times

Quite naturally, when discussing the pioneering women of hip-hop, the names of DJ Spinderella (Deidre Roper) of Salt-N-Pepa and MC Lyte (Lana Michelle Moorer) come to mind, as they did when The Birmingham Times interviewed some of the Magic City’s female DJs.

Women have always been integral to hip-hop, dating to its founding. Cindy Campbell, the sister of Clive Campbell—better known as hip-hop originator DJ Kool Herc—is considered the First Lady and Mother of Hip-Hop, after she organized a party in 1973 with her brother as the DJ. No one knew then that hip-hop would grow from a set of turntables in the recreation room at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in the Bronx into a multibillion-dollar business.

And there is the late Sylvia Robinson, founder of the renowned hip-hop record label Sugar Hill Records; she passed away in 2011. This visionary had the foresight to sign a trio of young men from Englewood, New Jersey: Michael “Wonder Mike” Wright, the late Henry “Big Bank Hank” Jackson (he passed away in 2014), and Guy “Master Gee” O’Brien, known collectively as the Sugar Hill Gang. Robinson was the driving force behind the first landmark singles in hip-hop: “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang (1979) and “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five (1982).

Campbell and Robinson played a key role in the birth of hip-hop. Since then, women have helped nurture hip-hop culture and move it forward with deft lyrics, unique fashion statements, and overall brilliance. Here are 10 pioneering women of hip-hop.

Queen Latifah

One of the most successful, if not the most successful, female artists in hip-hop is Queen Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens in Newark, N.J. As a rapper, she has won a Grammy Award. As an actor, she has received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations and won an Emmy Award. She also has been a talk show host and a product spokesperson and has worked on two documentaries for the Lifetime cable network. Queen Latifah is an original member of the Flavor Unit, a group of New York and New Jersey MCs and DJs. Along with fellow original Flavor Unit member Shakim Compere, Queen Latifah established Flavor Unit Entertainment, a film-and-management company that has produced more than 15 films and influenced the early careers of dozens of rap artists. She also was a member of the Native Tongues hip-hop collective, which included groups like De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and fellow female MC Monie Love; one of the group’s hits was “Buddy,” which featured verses from Queen Latifah and Monie Love. Queen La’s debut album “All Hail the Queen” (1989) included the hit single “Ladies First” (also with partner-in-rhyme Monie Love). Her third album “Black Reign” (1993) featured the Grammy-winning “U.N.I.T.Y.,” an anthem that spoke out against the disrespect of women in hip-hop culture. In 2006, Queen Latifah was the first hip-hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in October 2019 she received the W.E.B. Dubois Medal for her contributions to black history and culture during a ceremony at Harvard University. Still serving as the CEO of Flavor Unit Entertainment, Queen Latifah proves the sky is the limit not only for women in hip-hop but also for women of color.

Salt-N-Pepa

The trio of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandy “Pepa” Denton, and Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper released their first album “Hot, Cool, and Vicious” in December 1986 and, propelled by the Grammy Award–nominated hit “Push It,” became the first female rap act to earn a platinum status LP. The group set trends with their hairstyles, wardrobe, and dance-driven music videos. The ladies of Salt-N-Pepa also were recognized for developing their own brand of hip-hop feminism, with lyrics that embraced female sexuality on songs like “Let’s Talk about Sex,” “Whatta Man,” and “Shoop.” The group has sold more than 15 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling rap acts of all time, male or female. And in 1995, they won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for their song “None of Your Business.” Salt-N-Pepa remained together until earlier this year, when Roper announced she had been “terminated” from the group.

Roxanne Shanté

“I gave birth to most of them MCs, … so when it comes around to the month of May, send me your royalty check for Mother’s Day.”—Roxanne Shanté, “Have a Nice Day”

Lolita Shanté Gooden was an unknown 14-year-old who approached hip-hop producer Marlon “Marley Marl” Williams with the idea of a rap response to the UFTO hit “Roxanne, Roxanne.” Her 1994 single “Roxanne’s Revenge” triggered the Roxanne Wars, one of the most well-known series of hip-hop rivalries during the 1980s—maybe ever; it spawned anywhere from 30 to more than 100 answer records citing Roxanne’s family or making various claims about the rapper. And probably a first in rap, the Roxanne Wars created a dispute between two personas who were created as a result of a song: Roxanne Shanté and The Real Roxanne. Gooden, the original Roxanne, was born and raised in the Queensbridge Projects in New York’s Long Island City neighborhood, and was part of the Juice Crew, a group of artists founded by Marley Marl and legendary New York City DJ John “Mr. Magic” Rivas, who passed away in 2009. Not only was Shanté’s song the first recorded “battle response” in hip-hop, but she became one of hip-hop’s first female battle rappers. She started out vocally sparring with UTFO and moved next to fellow female MC Doreen “Sparky D” Broadnax, a clash that led to several freestyle face-offs between the two female rappers. “Roxanne, Roxanne,” a dramatized biopic about Roxanne Shanté’s life that was first shown at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, received critical acclaim. The film was co-produced by actor Forest Whitaker and music producer Pharrell Williams, and its lead actress, Chanté Adams, won a special jury prize for breakthrough dramatic performance at Sundance for her portrayal of Roxanne Shanté.

MC Lyte

Born Lana Michelle Moorer, MC Lyte ushered in a whole new way of how women were viewed in hip-hop. Her 1988 release of “Lyte As A Rock” marked the beginning of the solo female MC. She broke barriers in the music industry not only for being the first solo female MC to sell millions of singles and albums but also for her songs that helped transition hip-hop from the feel-good, party vibe of the late 1970s into a socially conscious form of expression. She addressed issues like racism, sexism, and the drug culture that consumed her community, and she was the first rap artist to perform at Carnegie Hall. The 1993 single “Roughneck” earned the legendary lyricist a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Single. MC Lyte would later serve as the first African American woman president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Recording Academy (the Grammy organization) from 2011 to 2013. She still performs, writes music, runs a scholarship foundation, mentors, and acts. She also is a much-sought-after DJ who has provided music for the NAACP Image Awards, Essence, Black Enterprise, and several other groups. MC Lyte’s journal is part of the “Hip-Hop Won’t Stop: The Beat, The Rhymes, The Life” collecting initiative by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

MC Sha Rock

When the Funky Four Plus One hit the music scene many may not have paid attention to the “Plus One”—Sharon “MC Sha Rock” Green, also referred to as the “Mother of the Mic” and the “Luminary Icon.” As an early pioneer affiliated with the Universal Zulu Nation, an international hip-hop-awareness group, Sha Rock inspired use of the “echo chamber,” a style of rapping emulated and made notable by later groups, including 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Run-DMC. The Funky Four Plus One had their first significant hits with the singles “Rapping and Rocking the House” (1979) and “That’s the Joint” (1980), both on Sugar Hill Records. The group made rap and hip-hop television history by being the first music artists to appear on national broadcast television. In 1981, progressive rock group Blondie, the featured performer on an episode of Saturday Night Live, chose the Funky Four—plus 19-year-old Sha Rock—as their special musical guests for the last live music slot of the show. When the group disbanded, Sha Rock went on to form an all-female rap group, Us Girls, which was featured in “Beat Street,” the 1984 groundbreaking film about New York City hip-hop culture.

Sister Souljah

Not many rap artists have had books appear on The New Times Best Sellers list, but Lisa Williamson—better known as Sister Souljah—has done it three times. Sister Souljah used her platform as a hip-hop artist to spark critical debates about race in America and encouraged often-silenced black women to speak up, not only through music but also as activists in communities around the world. During her teenage years, she received several honors, including the American Legion’s Constitutional Oratory Contest, for which she received a scholarship to attend Cornell University’s Advanced Summer Program. She graduated from Rutgers University with a dual degree in American History and African Studies. During her senior year at Rutgers, she developed and financed the African Youth Survival Camp for children of homeless families, a six-week summer sleepaway camp in Enfield, N.C. Sister Souljah appeared as a featured guest on several tracks with revolutionary hip-hop artists Public Enemy and eventually became a full member of the group, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. In 1992, she released her only album, “360 Degrees of Power,” but she will forever be remembered for her statements about the Los Angeles riots that took place the same year. In an interview, she was quoted in The Washington Post as saying, “If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?” The quotation was later reproduced in the media, and she was widely criticized. Then presidential candidate Bill Clinton publicly criticized that statement and the Rev. Jesse Jackson for allowing the rapper to be part of his Rainbow Coalition—thus the “Sister Souljah Moment” was created.

Oaktown’s 357

Suhayla “Sweet L.D.” Sabir, Phyllis “Lil P” Charles, and Tabatha Zee “Terrible T” King-Brooks began as background dancers for Stanley “MC Hammer” Burrell and in the late 1980s released their own Billboard Top 10 hit singles: “Juicy Gotcha Krazy” and “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.” “Oaktown” is a nickname for Oakland, Calif., and “357” referred to a .357 Magnum revolver to represent the power of their dance moves. The group struggled through member changes, and when Hammer’s popularity slid, so did the group. The ladies released two more albums—“Fully Loaded” (1991) and “Fila Treatment” (1992)—but by that time, most listeners had moved on. Still, that doesn’t take away from their role in the growth of female representation in hip-hop, especially at a time when the genre was male-dominated.

J. Fad

Without J. J. Fad’s 1998 platinum-selling debut album “Supersonic,” Ruthless Records wouldn’t have had the cash to drop N.W.A.’s seminal “Straight Outta Compton,” which was released later that same year, according to members of the group and superproducer Andre “Dr. Dre” Young in the Grammy Award–winning Best Music Film “The Defiant Ones.” J. J. Fad featured a rotating cast of Juana “MC JB” Burns, Juanita “Crazy J” Lee, Fatima “OG Rocker” Shaheed, Anna “Lady Anna” Cash, and Dania “Baby D” Birks; the group’s name is an acronym formed from the first letter each member’s first name. These ladies don’t get enough credit for their role in hip-hop history.

The Sequence

Another pioneering group signed to Sugar Hill Records in the late 1970s was The Sequence, which in 1979 released “Funk You Up,” the first rap single by a female group. The group’s members—Cheryl “Cheryl the Pearl” Cook, Gwendolyn “Blondie” Chisolm, and Angie “Angie B” Brown Stone—met in high school as cheerleaders in Columbia, S.C. The Sequence also was America’s first Southern rap group and one of the first to seamlessly blend singing and rapping. Cheryl the Pearl also claims they were the first to utter “gangsta rap” (a style of hip-hop that emphasizes a violent lifestyle) lyrics in their song “And You Know That” (1980), which includes the line, “We’re not Con Funk Shun/We’re not the Gap/We’re the Sugar Hill girls with the gangsta rap.” And if the name Angie Stone rings a bell, it should: She went on to become a producer, actress, and neo-soul music icon with four top-10 albums.

Lauryn Hill

Many of the pioneers on the list date back to the 1970s and 1980s, but Lauryn Hill’s “Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” (1998)—one of the top-selling hip-hop and rap albums of all time—must be acknowledged. Often described as a “masterpiece” by music experts, Hill’s only solo studio album has received critical acclaim as a representation of life and serves as a standard within the neo-soul genre. According to Billboard magazine, the album “turned her into an icon, showcased her visionary talents as the sole writer-producer on almost every track, and taught a generation about the power of baring your soul through song.” “Miseducation” debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and has sold approximately eight million copies and counting. At the 41st Grammy Awards, the album earned her five awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Hill, raised mostly in South Orange, N.J., began singing with her music-oriented family. She was approached in high school by Prakazrel “Pras” Michel for a band he started, which his friend, Wyclef Jean, soon joined; the trio named themselves the Fugees and released the album “Blunted on Reality” (1994). But it was “The Score” (1996)—which won a Grammy for Best Rap Album and sold six million copies in the U.S.—that catapulted Hill to prominence via her African American and Caribbean music influences, rapping and singing skills, and rendition of the Roberta Flack hit “Killing Me Softly.” The Fugees split in 1997 and paved way for Hill’s groundbreaking, career-defining album.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

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Naila Jackson Helps Greater-Birmingham Entrepreneurs Navigate Business Resources

BIRMINGHAM TIMES — Throughout the year Network Navigator hosts entrepreneur-focused workshops, networking events, and roundtables, as well as community conversations that help entrepreneurs understand policies, systems, and opportunities that impact their businesses. Additionally, through the CORE Program, entrepreneurs can get hands-on business support for marketing and branding, human resources, bookkeeping, and more.

Published

5 months ago

May 3, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Naila Jackson's Network Navigator is an independent nonprofit organization serving local entrepreneurs year-round with an online platform of resources and a variety of educational programming.

By Javacia Harris Bowser | The Birmingham Times

In May 2024, Naila Jackson launched Network Navigator as a one-day event designed to connect Greater Birmingham-based small business owners with the resources they needed to grow their companies. But she couldn’t stop there. Today, Network Navigator is an independent nonprofit organization serving local entrepreneurs year-round with an online platform of resources and a variety of educational programming.

“I am really hyper-focused on access,” Jackson said, explaining the mission of her nonprofit. “I think access is where our biggest gap is. People think it’s funding, but it’s actually access, so that’s my goal. Network Navigator is the access point for entrepreneurs.”

Network Navigator Small Business Week

Right now, Jackson is gearing up for Network Navigator Small Business Week. For more than 60 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration has celebrated National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of entrepreneurs and small business owners. Network Navigator Small Business Week will coincide with the national observance, which is set for May 3-9.

The week will begin Sunday, May 3, at 5 p.m. at The Fennec with the Network Navigator Small Business Awards, which will recognize local business leaders shaping the city’s economic future. A portion of proceeds will support the launch of the Navigator Startup Fund, which will provide early-stage financial assistance to individuals entering entrepreneurship after a layoff or other financial disruption.

“I want to make sure that these people, who are going to have to pour the last that they have into something, start off right and start off strong,” Jackson said.

On Tuesday, May 5, Network Navigator will partner with the Birmingham Public Library to launch the NavigateBHM Kiosk, an initiative designed to embed business resources within the city’s public library system.

On Wednesday, May 6, Network Navigator Day will return for its third year at the Auburn University Urban Studio in downtown Birmingham. With the theme “Tech Meets Main Street,” the free all-day summit will feature hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, industry roundtables and opportunities to connect directly with capital providers and technical assistance organizations.

“Network Navigator Day gets bigger and bigger every year,” Jackson said.

A key component of this year’s event is Capital Connect, an initiative designed to address barriers to funding. The program will match entrepreneurs with capital providers for focused 10- to 15-minute sessions, offering real-time feedback on funding readiness, introductions to lending and investment opportunities and guidance on next steps.

“My goal is for everybody to walk away with something so that they’ve moved the needle in some way in their business,” Jackson said. “They walk away with new ideas, new resources, new tools, something so they can say, ‘I came today and it was worth my time.’”

Resources and Understanding

Network Navigator was born out of an idea Jackson had in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was birthed out of Covid and just witnessing what it looked like for our culture and our people to struggle with the world shutting down,” she recalled. “A lot of them didn’t have their businesses legalized. They didn’t understand what it meant or how important it was to actually have federal documentation, state documentation, business bank accounts. They didn’t understand the importance of the structure.”

And they couldn’t apply for federal funding or other resources being allocated to small businesses in need. At first, Jackson wanted to create a directory of Black-owned small businesses. But she realized that entrepreneurs needed more.

“I started to understand more about the needs for the resources and understanding,” said Jackson, who previously worked for the Birmingham Business Alliance.

Initially supported by a grant from the City of Birmingham, Network Navigator was incubated at Prosper, a nonprofit dedicated to building the most inclusive and thriving economy in the Southeast. In January 2026, Network Navigator became an independent nonprofit that powers an online resource platform for entrepreneurs across Birmingham and the Greater Metropolitan Area and hosts a variety of programming.

Throughout the year Network Navigator hosts entrepreneur-focused workshops, networking events, and roundtables, as well as community conversations that help entrepreneurs understand policies, systems, and opportunities that impact their businesses. Additionally, through the CORE Program, entrepreneurs can get hands-on business support for marketing and branding, human resources, bookkeeping, and more.

Servant Leaders

The only child of Robert and Clara Jackson, Naila Jackson says she was raised in a “God-fearing household” of servant leaders.

Her mother worked for the social security administration for 43 years and her father worked in sales. Through the years they both kept busy serving at church – first at New Hope Baptist Church and later at The Worship Center.

“It was their goal to make sure that if it was your very first time, or if you had chosen this church, that you were going to feel welcome, there was something there for you and there was somebody there for you,” Jackson said of her parents. “They were always available and accessible.”

Jackson’s mother passed away in 2017, and she can still recall the touching comments from the funeral.

“Several people at her service came up to me and said, ‘Your mom was my mom. She was my second mom. She was my work mom. She was my champion.’ That really made me feel good that she left a legacy with other people.”

Jackson feels her passion for helping others is in her blood. At first, she thought she’d do this as an educator. After graduating from Midfield High School, she went to Alabama State University to study education. But instead, she’s teaching a different kind of student.

“I feel like I was called to serve entrepreneurs,” she said.

Collaboration Over Competition

One thing she hopes to teach entrepreneurs is the power of collaboration.

“I think people don’t understand the value and the power in collaboration and partnering with someone else who’s in your industry,” she said. “I think people are not aware that there’s enough for everyone.”

Jackson wants more Black entrepreneurs to consider taking over already established businesses.

“I wish our people would look more into mergers and acquisitions,” she said. “There’s no shame in just taking over where somebody else left off because the dollar is still green, and you may actually start off with more green dollars than you would if you were starting from scratch.”

She also wants entrepreneurs to let go of fear.

“Fear of not being enough, not measuring up, because there’s so much out here that makes you believe that you should be a certain way, look a certain way, have a certain thing, and so people feel like they won’t be accepted,” Jackson said. “So, they stay out of the circle of where that information might be or where that access might come from.”

All Eyes on Birmingham

Jackson believes now is a great time to build a business and build a life in Birmingham.

“Everybody’s eyes are on Birmingham right now,” she said. “Birmingham is a hot market, so it’s a beautiful place to be.”

When she’s not working, Jackson loves taking advantage of all the live music Birmingham has to offer. “I feel like I’ve been to every single concert we’ve had this year,” she said. She also enjoys spending time with her sons – Khalil, 24, and Jason, 10. And she loves to travel. But there’s no place like home.

“The beauty of Birmingham is its culture and its community,” she said. “And I think it’s just a beautiful place to be because there’s so much that’s happening here. There’s so much growth here, and there’s so much opportunity.”

Learn more at www.navigatebhm.com. To register for Network Navigator Day, visit www.networknavigatorday.com.

Birmingham Times

‘I Was Confident in Myself and Her Answer. I Knew She Would Say Yes … We Had Spent a Lot of Time Together’

BIRMINGHAM TIMES —Andrea and Jamal McCaskey’s love story began at a church service in 1991, leading to a 1992 wedding and a lifetime of shared experiences.

Published

5 months ago

April 23, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Andrea and Jamal McCaskey met at a special Fifth Sunday service at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.

By Mia Watkins | The Birmingham Times

Andrea & Jamal McCaskey

Live: Irondale

Married: September 25, 1992

Met: Meeting each other almost didn’t happen for the McCaskeys. The two met entirely by chance at a special Fifth Sunday service at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.

“It was a Sunday that I almost didn’t go,” said Jamal. “I’d been out partying all night. I decided to get up and go to church, and she just happened to come in and sit next to me. I noticed she was a visitor, and we struck up a conversation. After church, I saw her in the parking lot, and we talked some more and exchanged numbers.”

Andrea remembers it a little differently.

“He gave you the short version,” she laughed. “It was Fifth Sunday in August 1991. On Fifth Sunday, the male chorus sings, and so every female in Birmingham and all the surrounding counties came to church that day. By the time I got there, I had to park in the neighborhood somewhere. I walked into the church and ended up sitting in the back. He came and sat by me; I did not sit by him. He did notice that I had a visitor card. After church, he said, ‘Hey, I notice you have a visitor card. I usually go to some restaurant to eat. Would you like to eat?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I would love to, but I have family at home. I’m not able to go this Sunday. Thank you for asking.’ He leaves.’”

Andrea said she was actually visiting the church to meet someone else.

“The reason I even came to church that Sunday was because a student that I’d been working with said, ‘Hey, I have someone I want you to meet.’ I go to church and wait for my student to show up so that he can introduce me to whoever this is that he wants me to meet. Well, I waited for about 10 minutes, and he never showed up. So, I got out into the parking lot and ran into Jamal again, and Mayor Arrington was there campaigning, so we struck up a conversation ‘Hey, are you going to vote for Mayor Arrington.’ ‘No, I don’t live in the city limits, what about you?’ ‘I don’t live in the city limits either.’ Well, we learned that we lived about a half mile from each other on 280. We exchanged numbers, and he called me the next Tuesday. He always says he wanted to make me wait a couple of days.”

First date: The two don’t remember the details of their first date besides eating at Ruby Tuesday’s, but they remember what led up to the date and how they felt about each other.

“The Tuesday that he called, he asked me what I was doing, and I had just moved to Birmingham the month before,” she recalled. “When they hooked up my washer, they installed the hot water to the cold water and the cold water to the hot water. I was trying to use some tool that wasn’t the correct tool to make the change. He said, ‘Oh, I have the tool that you need. I’ve got a meeting to go to, but I can drop the tool off.’ He came and dropped the wrench or whatever it was, and that was the first time we saw each other after church.

Andrea remembers finding Jamal intriguing.

“The things I remember about him are that he was someone who was interesting to talk to,” she said. “He could talk about current events, he could talk about himself and things that he liked. He had a job. He had a car and he had his own place to live. All of those things were important.”

Jamal remembers finding Andrea intriguing too.

“She seemed very professional,” he said. “She kind of struck me as a person who I would want to get to know more about.”

The turn: Jamal remembers telling his brother that Andrea was the one.

“We used to joke about ‘this is the one, this is the one,” he said. “One day, I said to him that she might be the one.”

Andrea said it didn’t take her long to realize Jamal was her person.

“I probably knew pretty quickly,” she said. “Both of us were a little older. We were both 29 at the time. I had dated my fair share of knuckleheads, and I could tell he was not a knucklehead. I was probably all in from the beginning. One thing that I’ll always remember is that most of my friends who came from Nashville to visit me or called from Nashville would spend more time talking to him than they would talk to me. He was always able to just be a good friend to all my friends.”

Jamal said he could tell a lot about Andrea from her friend group.

“I’ve always heard that you look at people’s friends, you could tell a lot about them,” he said. “I could tell that her friends liked her a lot and were the kind of people I want to be around, too. That was a plus in my book.”

Jamal said his favorite thing about Andrea is her conviction.

“She speaks her mind, she says what she believes and she doesn’t tell you one thing and mean something else,” he said.

Andrea and Jamal McCaskey met at a special Fifth Sunday service at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. The couple married in 1992. (Provided)

The proposal: The two got engaged in January of 1992 on MLK Day.

“He had been out chopping wood, I don’t even know why he was out cutting down wood,” she remembered. The apartment I was in had a wood-burning fireplace, so he brought some wood to me for the fireplace. After he came in, he said, ‘Hey, what would you say if I asked you to marry me?’ I said, ‘Don’t play with me because I ain’t to be played with with that question.’ I told him, ‘If you’re serious, then, yes, I will marry you.’”

Jamal said he doesn’t remember chopping wood, but he does remember not being nervous to propose.

“I don’t remember bringing wood, and I certainly don’t remember chopping,” he said. “That was the day I decided that this was the one, and it was time to make a move. I was confident in myself and her answer. I knew she would say yes. I don’t mean sound conceited, but we had spent a lot of time together during that time period.”

The wedding: The wedding took place at Andreas’s home church in Nashville. It was presided over by Dr. Clement Fugh and her childhood pastor, Reverend Reed, who travelled from Indianapolis to marry the McCaskeys.

Their colors were peach, cream and a medium shade of blue. The church was filled with loved ones from both their life in Birmingham and from her hometown of Nashville.

“The church was full, and it was just a beautiful ceremony,” she said. “It was just a beautiful time.

Andrea said the memory from that day that she still carries is what Jamal said when she reached him at the altar.

“When I got down the aisle and got to where he was, he said, ‘You look so beautiful,’” she said. “I have remembered that all these years.

Jamal just remembers it being a happy day.

“I remember winking at her mom,” he said. “I remember smiling when Andrea came down the aisle. I remember a spring in my step the whole day. It was just a great day.”

The honeymoon: The two went on a cruise to the Bahamas for their honeymoon, a trip they are about to recreate.

“We did a ballroom dancing class, that’s the one thing I remember about it,” Andrea said.

Jamal said they met other married couples who shared pearls of wisdom.

They brought back a memento, a Lladro figurine of a Black bride and groom, to remember the occasion.

Words of wisdom: Andrea said that newer couples should keep in mind that love is an action.

“Love is more than a feeling,” she said. “Yes, there are days when we disagree and days when we just like, ’Who are you and what have you done with the person I married?’ And you continue to work. Do the work, put in the work and remember what it is that’s important.”

Jamal agreed.

“Keep the main thing the main thing,” he said. “You’ve got to find somebody who’s a friend, not just feeling butterflies in your stomach. You need somebody you can match you.”

Happily ever after: The McCaskeys have two adult children: a 29-year-old son who lives in Grayson Valley with his wife of two years, and a 27-year-old daughter who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Andrea is a retired HR professional who worked for the Inroads and Momentum programs. Jamal is a retired Deputy Chief of the Birmingham Police Department. He now works in real estate.

“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to [email protected]. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.

Birmingham Times

Midweek Magic: How Sloss Furnaces Brings History to Life for Students

BIRMINGHAM TIMES — Sloss Furnaces offers immersive Wednesday field trips for students to learn Birmingham’s history, from industrial science to the people behind the iron industry.

Published

5 months ago

April 23, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Wednesdays at Sloss Furnace are dedicated to education. (Sloss Furnace)

If you think Sloss Furnaces is only a place to visit on special occasions, here’s a little insider knowledge: Every Wednesday, the historic site comes alive with the energy of students discovering Birmingham’s roots in a hands-on, unforgettable way.

Learning Where It Actually Happened

There’s something powerful about standing in the very place where history unfolded. For students visiting Sloss Furnaces on field trips, this isn’t just another lesson from a textbook, it’s a full-on experience.

They walk beneath towering iron structures, see the massive furnaces up close, and learn how raw materials were transformed into the iron that helped build a city. It’s immersive, a little gritty, and way more memorable than reading about it in class.

Why Wednesdays Matter

Wednesdays at Sloss are dedicated to education. School groups from across the region come through the gates to explore everything from industrial science to local history. Guided tours break down complex processes like how blast furnaces worked into engaging, easy-to-understand stories.

And it’s not just about machinery. Students also learn about the people behind the industry, the workers, the challenges they faced, and the role Sloss played in shaping Birmingham’s identity.

More Than a Field Trip

What makes these visits special is how they connect the past to the present. Kids don’t just hear about Birmingham becoming the “Magic City”—they see why it happened.

Students watch as talented metal artists pour their artwork in molten iron and prepare it for students to take home the same day. For many students, it’s their first time realizing that history isn’t distant or abstract. It’s local. It’s tangible. It’s right here.

While weekends and events often get the spotlight, these midweek field trips are a reminder that Sloss Furnaces is an active learning space year-round. It’s not just preserved history. It is a place where new generations come to understand and appreciate it.

So next time you’re nearby on a Wednesday, don’t be surprised to see groups of students exploring, asking questions, and maybe even imagining what it was like when the furnaces first roared to life.

Home schools, Private schools, and Public schools groups are welcome. Tours and Pours are free for Birmingham City Schools. Educators, email Sloss Furnaces Historian, Ty Malugani to schedule your school tour.

Birmingham Times

South Hampton K-8 Students Among Top 10 Finalists for Samsung’s ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ Competition

BIRMINGHAM TIMES — Samsung’s “Solve for Tomorrow” competition gives students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to work together and explore how science, technology, engineering and math can be used to create change in their communities.

Published

6 months ago

March 23, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Students at South Hampton K-8 School work on their project for Samsung’s 2025-2026 “Solve for Tomorrow” competition. (Samsung)

Birmingham Times

Students at South Hampton K-8 School have placed among the top 10 national finalists for Samsung’s 2025-2026 “Solve for Tomorrow” competition.

Samsung’s “Solve for Tomorrow” competition gives students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to work together and explore how science, technology, engineering and math can be used to create change in their communities.

“We believe that technology should protect people,” said James Speights, a South Hampton K-8 7th grader.

Details on South Hampton’s project can be found here. For this project, the Birmingham City Schools students focused on tornado preparedness, developing a solar-powered and sensor-based tornado monitoring and alert system.

Their project, Storm Sentinels, would use Raspberry Pi technology to send out early warning text messages to over 1,000 families in a tornado’s path. The plan would add valuable time for people to take shelter.

“We can’t stop the storms, but we can prevent tragedy,” said Areille Judkins, an 8th grader. “We are proud to be a part of solutions that can help strengthen communities and save lives,” she added.

Voting is now open for the Community Choice Award on Samsung’s competition website.

South Hampton K-8 student Jason Walton, an 8th grader, talks about their “Solve for Tomorrow” project. (Samsung)

Samsung “Solve for Tomorrow” is open to public school students in grades 6-12. Only schools that are at least 50% publicly funded are eligible to compete. Students work together to come up with a project plan, and teachers submit the team’s application.

Birmingham Times

Mayor Randall Woodfin Criticizes Central Alabama Water After 135 Employees Unexpectedly Laid Off

THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES — “The water works as a utility is not a private sector company. How we treat our employees, how we treat working class people should always be paramount in any decision making,” said Mayor Randall Woodfin. “I’m not sure if thought went into these actions.”

Published

6 months ago

March 21, 2026

BlackPressUSA

At a Friday press conference, Randall Woodfin spoke out after Central Alabama Water laid off 135 employees. (Screengrab)

The Birmingham Times

Randall Woodfin is speaking out after Central Alabama Water laid off 135 employees, raising concerns about how the decision impacts both workers and the community.

At a Friday press conference, Woodfin shared a personal story about a recent interaction with an employee who had lost her job. The woman, a mother whose child attends the same school as his son, told the mayor that she and her husband worked for the water board and were both laid off.

“The water works as a utility is not a private sector company. How we treat our employees, how we treat working class people should always be paramount in any decision making,” said Woodfin. “I’m not sure if thought went into these actions.”

The mayor said the conversation stuck with him.

“I personally met and saw the pain, saw the genuine fear in her own eyes of how she and her husband are going to simply take care of their family,” he said.

According to Woodfin, the woman worked in customer service, and nearly her entire department was let go. He said that raises concerns about how residents, especially older adults in Birmingham, will access services, such as paying their water bills in person.

“This public organization — it doesn’t seem they have to answer to anybody,” said Woodfin. “They should be answering to the customers.”

Woodfin also criticized how the layoffs were handled, saying “shame on you” to CAW and questioning whether enough thought was given to the broader impact on both employees and customers.

He went on to raise concerns about water quality, noting that some of the employees responsible for monitoring it were among those laid off.

“If you get rid of the team that’s responsible for managing that, verifying that every day, what are we left with?” asks Woodfin.

Birmingham Times

Pete Buttigieg to Join Mayor Randall Woodfin for Community Town Hall in Birmingham

THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES — “Secretary Buttigieg has been one of the leading voices in the country on infrastructure investment, economic development, and the future of American communities,” Blueprint Alabama stated in a Facebook announcement. “We are proud to welcome him to Birmingham for this important conversation alongside Mayor Woodfin.”

Published

6 months ago

March 9, 2026

BlackPressUSA

Pete Buttigieg will be in Birmingham Monday for a community conversation with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. Buttigieg was previously in Birmingham in 2022 to announce a $1 billion infrastructure plan aimed at reconnecting communities. (File)

The Birmingham Times

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will join Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin for a community conversation on Monday, March 9, at 11 a.m. at the historic Carver Theatre.

The event, organized by Blueprint Alabama, will cover a range of topics including economic opportunity, infrastructure, neighborhood priorities, and the current political climate.

“Secretary Buttigieg has been one of the leading voices in the country on infrastructure investment, economic development, and the future of American communities,” Blueprint Alabama stated in a Facebook announcement. “We are proud to welcome him to Birmingham for this important conversation alongside Mayor Woodfin.”

Admission is free, but reservations are required. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

This won’t be Buttigieg’s first visit to the Magic City. When the Biden-Harris Administration awarded more than $21.6 million to pay for street infrastructure in Birmingham’s Civil Rights District, Buttigieg came to deliver the news. In 2024, Buttigieg returned to Birmingham to further discuss ways street improvements could strengthen the community.

Blueprint Alabama hopes the listening session will bring together residents, advocates, students, and community leaders from across Alabama.

Event Details

Location: Carver Theatre, Birmingham, Alabama
Date: Monday, March 9
Doors Open: 10:30 AM
Program Begins: 11:00 AM
Admission: Free (RSVP required)