Several months ago, I was in my car and as I switched off the CD and turned the radio to NPR, I heard these words . . . or, so I thought. “In Alabama trying to toughen up baby oysters . . .”
I heard only a split second of the news segment—this is the actual dialogue from the story:
“Oyster populations have fallen 85% worldwide since the late 1800s. Oyster reefs offer natural protection to climate-endangered shorelines, so in Alabama, researchers are working to restore them. That involves toughening up baby oysters against predators—toughening the baby oysters to increase their survival rate in the big, bad undersea world of Mobile Bay.”
I was born in Alabama and have lived here my entire life. It is a state with extraordinary natural beauty. From the beaches on the gulf to the picturesque mountains in the northeast and throughout other regions of the state—there is a wide variety of fauna, flora, and terrain.
Most of the mountains and high points in the state are part of the Appalachian Mountains, which stretch north from Alabama up to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. These mountainous areas in Alabama are known for their many caves, lakes, and waterfalls.
Another spectacular feature is the river systems and watersheds. Alabama’s springs, streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands are home to more species of aquatic and semi-aquatic animals than any other state. Some of the larger rivers include: the Tennessee, the Chattahoochee, the Mobile, the Coosa, and the Alabama.
The Cahaba River (which runs next to my house) is Alabama’s longest stretch of free-flowing river. It is home to more fish species per mile than any other river in the country. In May, you can find the rare and beautiful Cahaba Lily—which only grows in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. The flower consists of large white blossoms with a bright green center and petals that spread in a shape resembling a star. Each lily blooms in the evening but usually withers away the next day.
Despite all the wonderful things in Alabama, when I drive out of state, I am embarrassed of the license plate on my car. I know the impression outsiders have of Alabama and I am fearful they will judge me. Frankly, in many ways, their impressions are accurate about Alabama—but not everyone fits these preconceived generalizations. (I know plenty of Alabamians who are thoughtful progressives who value science and reality. Many Alabamians are sophisticated and well-educated.)
Politics and religion seem to make people crazy—and my state has a knack for grabbing national headlines. So when others find out I am from Alabama, I hope they do not hold that against me.
Some Interesting Places in Alabama. In No Particular Order:
- U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville (world’s largest spaceflight museum)
- NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville
- Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (museum and educational center that depicts events from the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s)
- Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery
- Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery (ASF offers plays and musicals from Shakespeare to contemporary. It is among the ten largest Shakespeare festivals in the world.)
- Mounds built by pre-Columbian Native Americans in Moundville
- W.C. Handy Music Festival in Florence
- Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
- Muscle Shoals Sound Studio (artists such as Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, and The Rolling Stones have recorded here)
- Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House in Florence
Natural Resources:
- iron ore (Alabama is the only state with all the major natural resources needed to make iron and steel.)
- coal
- marble
- limestone
- fish
- oil
- Noccalula Falls in Gadsden
- Mount Cheaha
- Little River Canyon National Preserve
- DeSoto State Park and DeSoto Falls
- Cathedral Caverns
- Bankhead National Forest
- Talladega National Forest
A Few Famous People from Alabama:
- Harper Lee
- Zora Neale Hurston
- Zelda Fitzgerald
- Mark Childress
- Winston Groom
- Walker Percy
- Howell Rains
- Hugo Black
- Kathryn Tucker Windham
- Robin Roberts
- Roy Wood Jr.
- Fannie Flagg
- Jim Nabors
- Courtney Cox
- Sela Ward
- Kate Jackson
- Nell Carter
- Channing Tatum
- Sonequa Martin-Green
- E. O. Wilson
- Lionel Richie
- Jason Isbell
- Emmylou Harris
- Dinah Washington
- Hank Williams
- Tammy Wynette
- Wilson Pickett
- Jamey Johnson
- Nat King Cole
- Lionel Hampton
- Erskine Hawkins
- Ward Swingle
- Taylor Hicks
- Ruben Studdard
- Hank Aaron
- Willie Mays
- Bo Jackson
- Charles Barkley
- Jesse Owens
- Evander Holyfield
- Mia Hamm
Popular Foods:
- White Barbecue Sauce (invented by Robert “Big Bob” Gibson in Alabama)
- Golden Eagle Syrup
- Dreamland Barbecue
- Conecuh Sausage
- Chilton County Peaches
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Fried Chicken
- Collard Greens
- Fried Okra
- Banana Pudding
- Pecan Pie
- Fried Catfish
- Pulled Pork
- Tomato and Mayo Sandwich
- Moon Pie
- Grits
One More Thing . . .
And, lest I forget . . . Alabama is also famous for football. Alabama Crimson Tide football is among the most storied and decorated football programs in NCAA history.
Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama
Lord, I’m comin’ home to you
— Ronnie Van Zant (1948-1977) and Gary Robert Rossington (1951-2023) Two of the founding members of the American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd
Stereotypes exist for a reason, but they are not always accurate—not all Alabamians are Southern backwoods, redneck, or hillbilly. We are salt of the earth people with a rich culture, great food, and with diverse sensibilities.
Down in Alabama there are many wonderful things to do and see. And . . . maybe as a people we are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.
Oh . . . and those baby oysters, I hope they find a way to toughen them up! Fried, gulf oysters is one of my favorite foods. When visiting Mobile, eating fried oysters at Wintzell’s Oyster House is a must for me.
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