Whitley Returns to Magic City Parade

Carla Jean Whitley, a former reporter and current communications manager in Birmingham, plans to attend the Magic City Classic parade this year. She covered the annual event for AL.com in 2015. Scheduling conflicts have prevented her from returning to the weekend festivities since then. She intends to participate in the parade later this month.

In 2015, AL.com assigned Whitley to cover the face-off between Alabama A&M and Alabama State University. She accepted the assignment despite knowing she might be one of few white attendees at Legion Field. She said people seemed curious about her presence. Whitley noted that she was in the minority but not the only white person there. Attendees told her they were glad she was there. She said the atmosphere felt welcoming.

Whitley’s interest in the event stems from her love of marching bands. She is a Florida native who graduated from Florida State University and the University of Alabama. She has no athletic ties to either participating school. She said she found the energy of the alumni base thrilling. Her high school background as a cheerleader made her appreciate the band’s entrance. She described the marching band as a thing of beauty. She stated that football is not the same without it.

During her 2015 coverage, Whitley focused on capturing the culture of the event rather than the game statistics. She walked around downtown Birmingham during the parade. She observed the fashion and community pride of the attendees. She described the parade as the epitome of what she wants to see in a parade. She said the day started on a wonderful note. She then moved to Legion Field, known locally as the Old Gray Lady.

At the stadium, Whitley prioritized the halftime show over the football match. She watched the Battle of the Bands during the break in play. She called the halftime performance epic. She noted that the event attracts many celebrities. She had one such encounter outside Legion Field in 2015. She saw a woman dressed in orange and blue, the colors of the University of Florida. Whitley approached the woman to ask why she was wearing those colors. The woman was rapper and producer Khia. Whitley did not recognize her at first. Her photographer told her who Khia was. Whitley said she had never heard Khia’s hit track, My Neck, My Back. She described herself as bookish and bad at recognizing famous people. She said she and Khia enjoyed chatting about their teams.

Whitley described the 2015 experience as an honor. She felt welcomed into an event that did not have a direct cultural connection to her. She said the Classic is Birmingham’s biggest event. She compared it to local food festivals and events at the Birmingham Museum of Art. She views the Classic as an example of the city’s rich cultural experiences. She said the event breaks down walls and cultivates community. She believes it is possible to enjoy experiences where you are not the majority.

Whitley hopes her 2015 coverage helped readers who could not attend the festivities. She said not everyone can go to the things that are important to them. She wanted to help those people feel connected to the events. She plans to return to the parade this year to observe the community spirit firsthand.