In a quaint Alabama town, where twinkling lights and festive cheer now paint the streets, a dark and unresolved legacy continues to haunt its citizens.
Cullman, deemed one of America’s ‘cutest Christmas’ towns, is still wrestling with its racial past – a history rooted in segregation and the infamous ‘sundown’ laws that once made it a perilous place for black people after dark.
The small Southern town, with a black population of just over one percent, hosts an annual Christmas themed celebration, Christkindlmarkt, which honors the town’s German roots and invites tourists from all over.
The month-long celebration features a Weihnachtspyramide, a 40ft Christmas pyramid – the country’s tallest – an ice-skating rink, Ferris wheel, and a life-size nativity scene.
The Hallmark-inspired market recently caught the attention of Southern Living for its iconic festivities as the publication noted the market was ‘in the perfect small town.’
But even with all the festive holiday cheer, the town still remains split on whether or not the population 20,000 town is really a ‘sundown’ town.
Dating back to the 1950s, a ‘sundown town’ refers to a predominantly white community that uses intimidation, violence, or discriminatory laws to exclude non-white people.
The term comes from the signs that would direct non-white people to leave town before the sun goes down.
Cullman, Alabama (pictured), deemed one of America’s ‘cutest Christmas ‘ towns, is still wrestling with its racially charged past – a history rooted in the grim days of segregation and the infamous ‘sundown’ laws that once made it a perilous place for black people after dark
The small Southern town, with a black population of just over one percent, hosts an annual Christmas themed celebration (pictured), Christkindlmarkt, which honors the town’s German roots and invites tourists from all over
Now, Cullman has now been forced to confront the racist ghost of its past after a TikTok video sparked widespread discussion over its unpleasant decades-long reputation.
‘Ya’ll, we got drama in Alabama,’ the now viral video states. ‘Ain’t nobody coming to Cullman,’ the poster says with a laugh.
‘Cullman, Alabama is a sundown town. Was, is, forever will be,’ the video continues. ‘If they really are changing and becoming more welcoming …. They need to put some marketing effort into that first.’
Yet some disagree, claiming change happened a long time ago and that they hope people will see how far Cullman has come.
Cullman’s Parks and Recreation Executive Director, Nathan Anderson, said that even though the town’s history is complex, ‘like most Southern communities,’ he hopes that the people will see for themselves that it has changed for the better.
‘Our message is, please come and experience it. I can assure you, it is not what you’re hearing from those that aren’t familiar with us, that haven’t been here, definitely not in recent decades,’ Anderson told AL.com.
‘All I can say is, that’s not our story for today. We are the opposite, and we go to church with a diverse group of people. My kids go to school with a diverse group of people. You know, we play ball with them. It is it is the opposite of what others are saying.’
Anderson added that 16.6 percent of event attendees over the Thanksgiving weekend were from the black community. The data was compiled using an AI analytic tool that tracks consumer foot traffic called Placer.ai.
The month-long celebration features an ice-skating rink, Ferris wheel, and a life-size nativity scene and runs from November 21 to December 23.
Yet, even with Anderson’s affirmation the town has drifted from its racist roots, many have taken to social media to share their concerns for the town and its practices.
‘Born and raised in Montgomery….this is so true!!! We’ve been told to never stop in between Birmingham and Huntsville…make sure your tank is FULL!’ one user commented on the viral video.
Christkindlmarkt also features a Weihnachtspyramide, a 40-foot-tall Christmas pyramid – the country’s tallest.
‘Born and raised in Bama, this is true. My hubby was looking at houses in Bama and he found one in Cullman I said um, NO he said why I said YOU wouldn’t be safe there after dark. So I had to tell him,’ another commented.
Another commented: ‘As a Tuscaloosa Alabama native currently living in VA this is so true. My family is still in the state they/we know better.’
Several other social media posts also argued that Cullman was as it was in the 1950s. However, former State Representative James C. Fields Jr., a black Democrat and lifetime resident of the area, said nothing could be further from the truth.
‘Cullman did have the name sundown town, but to lay that now at the feet of the progress that has been made in Cullman, the diversity that is all over the area… I didn’t bother to go on TikTok to see what was actually said, but that is an injustice, and it is an unfairness to the city of Cullman,’ Fields told 1819 News.
‘I’ve worked in Cullman all my life, and I’m 70 years of age; sat on various boards locally and statewide,’ he continued.
‘But why someone would be motivated or moved to post something like that … that would be the furthest thing from the truth that people of color would not be comfortable going to the park and enjoying everything they have in there.’
‘I have lived in Cullman County my whole life and it is not fair seeing the bad history of this community from 80 years ago resurface,’ Senator Garlan Gudger said. ‘Cullman is a family community that is safe and welcoming for all who attend our Christmas events or any event.’ Pictured: A Ferris Wheel at the December event
Even with all the festive holiday cheer, the town still remains split on whether or not the town is really a ‘sundown’ town – a predominantly white community that uses intimidation, violence, or discriminatory laws to exclude non-white people. Pictured: A Ku Klux Klan special forces command unit in Cullman, Alabama, circa 1975
Another state representative, Senator Garlan Gudger agreed with Fields that calling Cullman a sundown town was unjust.
‘I have lived in Cullman County my whole life and it is not fair seeing the bad history of this community from 80 years ago resurface,’ Gudger said.
‘Cullman is a family community that is safe and welcoming for all who attend our Christmas events or any event.’
Cullman’s Christkindlmarkt is slated to run from November 21 to December 23, seven days a week.
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Publish date : 2024-12-09 01:25:00
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