SELMA, Alabama: SAD, Decaying City Is Dying Despite Its Incredible History

I visited the historic town of Selma, Alabama.

Travel Vlog 273

[shunteljohnson]

This is my home . Born and raised. I still live here. Thank you for visiting. ❤❤

[lorettaatchison]

A lot of the buildings that you are showing were torn up by the tornado in Jan. of this year. I am from Selma and it is lacking in places to shop and people go elsewhere to shop. It's taking forever for insurance to pay up for the houses to be fixed. A good bit of Old Town was hurt bad.

[coachsmith]

This video broke my heart. Born and raised in Selma. My mother owns her house there. After going to college, myself and 3 siblings all never came back to Selma. The city has been in decline for years. But like the other comments said the tornado that hit the city earlier this year was devastating. I dont want to go into the laundry list of issues with the city. But I will say like myself, most people from here leave and never come back.

[er]

Joe you deserve everything you might make from your travels. You research the history so well and present it exceptionally well holds interest from start to finish. Thank you for sharing and allowing us all to travel along with you.

[teresa]

ON A SIDE NOTE: On Jan. 12, 2023 Selma, Alabama took a direct hit from a high end EF2 tornado, some reports said EF3 with wind speeds between 130-150 MPH winds doing massive damage to the town.

[donaldpruett]

A police officer called in on his car radio and said; "I have a strange situation here. An elderly woman just shot her husband for walking on her freshly mopped floor." His supervisor asked; "Have you arrested her?" "No", replied the officer. Supervisor asked; "Well, why not?" The officer said; "Because the floor is still wet."

[andytaylor]

A year ago in January, an EF2 tornado destroyed one third of the city. It's path was through the downtown area of Selma. The city is still dealing with the damage cleanup as well as rebuilding.

[ectofix]

Thank you so much for the tour.
I was born in Selma at Craig Air Force Base in 1960, but we moved away shortly after while I was still an infant. My Dad was stationed there at the time while attending flight instructor school. After moving to Virginia for a few years, we settled in Texas in 1964 - where I was raised.

During my teen years living in Texas, Dad told me a story about when we were in Selma. He said he’d invited all of his flight crew over to the house for a cookout. One of them, who was black, flatly turned down my dad’s offer. When my dad asked WHY, the man told him, _“For your own safety and for mine. Folks in these parts won’t allow a white man to invite a black into their home and let them get away with it.”_
That man and my dad kept in touch for many years afterwards as friends.
From that story, I’ve always made sure that when I tell people where I was born, I quickly clarify that I never remembered the place and that I find it shameful that bigotry was so rampant then.

[LyleFrancisDelp]

The houses tell me that Selma was once a lovely little gem of the south.

[jennypenny]

so sad to see what once were happy family home like this. I live in England and it's very educational watching your videos, I've learned a lot about places I've never heard of, thank you for that.

[TinkerTailor]

I believe the "statement" on that building is biblical. Fascinating place, past and present, and one of your best videos. Way to power through the rain! Weather matched your seemingly blue mood.

[blossomhere]

I was in Selma in Dec.2022.Yes to some incredible homes .Yet is is a dangerous town.The people living there have little desire to change.

[Bear_]

You can see what was a very beautiful city back in the day. It's too bad that all the multi billionaires in this country don't invest in rebuilding such a historical city. It has so much potential. Very sad to see it's slow death... Thanks Joe.

[JohnSmith-tikp]

It is impossible for those not living in this region to understand the underlying mentality that prevents towns like Selma from prospering. Basically, the majority there are waiting for someone to do something, that almost always means, "the govment". This way of thinking has been ingrained so deeply for so long, 50+ years, that changing it is improbable and closer to impossible.

[jonathanbaggs]

I used to go to selma all the time 30 and 40 years ago. Went to wonderful parties at sturdivant hall. The cemetery is so full of historic figures buried there. Always dreamed of living in one of the beautiful homes there - now you can buy them for practically nothing relatively speaking. The st james hotel is where legend has it jesse james stayed for a while laying low.

[everettnichols]

The railroads built a lot of 'shotgun' houses to house employees!
You will find many of them near railroad yards and other railroad facilities!

[vrj]

If there are no industries to find work, then it doesn't matter whether you're in Selma, Detroit, Toledo, etc. You will unfortunately see dying cities and towns.

[mekkler]

Good in-depth look at a very historic town. I remember all that happening. Chaotic times.

[yaminatoday]

The buildings are really beautiful and alot of the streets are so clean. It's just empty. But, man, you can see the potential!

[galacticWeather]

I do believe if the national government didn't move the craig airforce base that selma would still be a thriving town it was the main employment back in the day nowadays you have to drive all the way to Prattville to work.