Local Activist Continues to Create Black History in Tuscaloosa

Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa, 92.9 WTUG, Praise 93.3, 105.1 The Block, and the Tuscaloosa Thread are proud to present the 2024 Black History Makers of Alabama.

Yellowhammer State is filled with great African American leaders from the past, present, and future. We thank our West Alabama community partners, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Delta Phi Lambda Chapter, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Xi Omega Chapter, for their continued support.

Black History Maker of Alabama – Deborah Minor

Deborah Minor, a native of Tuscaloosa, is a local activist, entrepreneur, and community organizer. At 34, she established the first full-service African-American advertising and marketing company in Tuscaloosa, Total Concept Advertising and Marketing LLC, along with Total Concept Event Planning Company.

The company she founded produced "The Network Directory," a magazine showcasing African-American businesses across Alabama. This publication highlighted influential business leaders and included articles on business, politics, workplace laws, and more. The magazine remained in circulation for almost 15 years.

Minor has been actively engaged in numerous organizations and has achieved significant milestones throughout her life. She holds the distinction of being the first accredited African-American aerobics instructor in Tuscaloosa. Additionally, as a Benjamin Barnes YMCA board member, she initiated and coordinated "The Family Unity Festival," a successful fundraising event that greatly benefited the YMCA.

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Furthermore, she is a Stillman College Foundation Board member and a past officer of The University of Alabama’s Black Faculty and Staff Association. She holds deep pride in assisting along with other BFSA members the Vivian Malone Jones and James Hood Endowment Scholarship Fund, which has been operational for over two decades.

She, alongside other organizers, established a 501c3 non-profit named "People Fighting Hunger." This organization played a crucial role in providing meals to the people of Tuscaloosa on weekends, especially when the Soup Kitchen was only operational on weekdays.

"Black History Month is an occasion to appreciate the struggle of the past generations for freedom, a historical period for us to learn from as we seek to make our future better.”

Currently, she is engaged with the Church and Community Outreach of Tuscaloosa and the Social Justice and Community Engagement Department at Stillman College. Their mission is to address the needs of the community every single day of the year.

Her immediate objective is to establish a foundation aimed at addressing reading illiteracy.