The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute documents the struggle of African-American citizens in Birmingham to becoming full participants in the city's government and business community in the 1950s and 1960s. The Institute is an educational, cultural and research center that seeks to promote a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the significance of civil rights developments in the South, with particular emphasis on the national struggle of African-American citizens and minority participation in the democratic process and free enterprise system.The Institute was founded in 1990 and opened to the public on November 16, 1992.
The institute showcases a walking journey through the "living institution" which displays the lessons of the past as a positive way to chart new directions for the future. The permanent exhibitions are a self-directed journey through Birmingham's contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles.
Visiting the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham was a very humbling experience and the information which we digested helped us to understand further how history has shaped the health of local communities. Throughout this exchange it has been apparent that history is ever present and that heritage has an important role in supporting community change.
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