What is Momma alluding to when she says "that stuff on TV isn't happening around her"? The Watsons go to Birmingham

Momma is alluding to the conflicts and violence in Birmingham, Alabama.

Explanation:

The story of "The Watsons go to Birmingham" is set during the 1960s, when Birmingham, Alabama, was a particularly violent place, especially when it came to African Americans. A particular event is actually depicted in the story: the bombing of a church by the Ku Klux Klan, which killed four little girls. When Momma says "that stuff on TV isn't happening around her," she is alluding to tragic events prior to the bombing. At that time, civil rights, racism and social inequality were among the causes of several conflicts that, unfortunately, often ended in violence and death.

the anecdote makes readers feel sorry for the man’s lack of heritage, then reminds readers that the man has an equally valuable heritage.