Yes, 29 years have passed since Alabama's largest city elected its first black Mayor. I was fortunate enough to be at the old Parliament House on 20th Street South (torn down earlier this year) covering the Arrington Campaign that night for WERC Radio, and I still get chills listening to tape of the sounds of the excitement in the room as it became obvious Councilman Arrington was going to become Mayor Arrington. The ballroom was packed, and so noisy it took those at the podium a good fifteen minutes to get the crowd quiet enough for the Mayor-Elect to be heard. Everything he said was greeted with cheers as people stretched to see, some standing on tables. He explained he was delayed from making his victory speech by a call...a call from President Jimmy Carter in the White House, congratulating Arrington his achievement.
In subsequent decades as a TalkRadio host I had my difference with the Mayor over policy decisions, but it still is a thrill to remember the night The Magic City took the significant step away from the racism of the 60's.
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