Noel Didla and Ed Fields: As Goes The South

Abstract

Birmingham, Alabama, is not what you think it is. As Goes The South is a 45-minute film about Birmingham, Alabama, that reveals the character of a modern, Southern city hidden behind the outsized reputation of the state of Alabama. It acknowledges Birmingham’s fight for progress in one of the nation’s most hostile state governments since Reconstruction, but it doesn’t linger on the fight. As Goes The South represents a tapestry of assertions, truths, happenings, and possibilities of Black, Brown, and White leaders across Birmingham, who have chosen to lean into their relationships, their cultures, and their city in spite of the dominant culture and public policies that may harm them and the people they serve. As Goes The South also highlights the city’s promise, creativity, resilience, and most importantly, its people – against all odds. The film captures the dynamism of the city’s landscape; it is a beautifully orchestrated city symphony. As Goes The South has vibrant colors and a cohesive soundtrack that is as bombastic as it is soulful – like Birmingham herself. Birmingham deserves to be seen beyond black and white. The film depicts a new generation of community leaders, policymakers, and artisans working collectively to address outdated narratives about their community. This hopeful and visually rich narrative illustrates that Birmingham’s journey- like many other cities in the South – isn’t just about local progress; it’s a story of resilience in the face of state-sponsored opposition that has always been an inspiration to the nation. It’s time to remind people, in 4K. As Goes The South is grounded in a deep connection to responsible storytelling of people and their place.

Biographies

Noel Didla

Noel Didla is an immigrant from Guntur, South India, making Jackson, Mississippi home. Noel has invested in people centered movements and systems change work in Jackson, Mississippi, the Deep South, Gulf South, and the Global South. Noel is the co-steward of the Deep South Solidarity Fund, a 5 year giving experiment that focuses on funding BIPOC individuals, institutions and social justice infrastructure in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi Georgia, and Alabama. Noel is committed to a lifetime of principled struggle with people and places that are home and inform her belonging.

Ed Fields

Ed Fields is a civic strategist, essayist, and poet. He spent 25 years as a social entrepreneur, serving as a marketer and executive administrator for a number of nonprofit, media, and public entities. Ed is the founder of multiple civic organizations and producer of dozens of public campaigns that center the dignity of people, improve organizational reputation, and position organizations for strategic growth. Ed currently serves as Senior Advisor & Chief Strategist for the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office and co-founder of The Southern Futures Project, a narrative change project with Noel Didla.