I am working on my 1981 Camaro Berlinetta. I drove it to work last week and the emergency brake didn’t release all the way. Didn’t notice until I stopped. I had to put the emergency brake on and off until it released completely but the damage was done. I was lucky to make it home. I need to replace the rear drum brakes. There are a lot of videos online showing how to do it. My problem is I can’t get the drum off. I have both tires off the ground. The emergency brake is off and I have it in neutral. I have beat the hell out of it with a hammer.

 

Is the drum loose from the hub and the brake shoes are holding it back, or is it locked onto the axle hub? If it's not wiggling loose at all, you need a bigger hammer and whack the hell out of the drum working your way around the outer corner. Penetrating oil and heat between the hub and drum may help.
If it's loose, then the shoes are either stuck behind the raised wear ridge on the drum, or the shoes aren't releasing all the way. Does the star adjuster move at all? If so, you can adjust the brakes back in. I've had stubborn ones finally give up the fight by prying between the drum and backing plate with a pry bar, freeing the shoes from the mounting pins.

 

Reach through the adjustment slot, whether on the drum or backing plate, push away the self-adjuster tab and turn the adjuster opposite from the self-adjuster direction to make the drum shoe diameter smaller - looking from the rear - drvr side CW, pass side CCW.
Once all adjustment is taken up, then pry off drum either by grabbing it or as suggested, big hammer - Cover ears.

When replacing drums, smear a minute amount of anti-seize on axle flange preventing rust up later in life.

 

My best guess from my research is that the shoes are holding It back. If I am understanding things right I need to use the automatic adjuster to bring the shoes in. Like this. I can’t find an entry point like this.

 

Then look and see if there is a hole on the face of the drum

 

Worse case hit the drum with a sledge and break it or cut it with a torch. You're replacing it all any ways..

 

As suggested, if slot is not on backing plate, look at drum and you will see an imprint of an oval.
Punch out the oval and use a scribe - best tool - or a screwdriver and pull away the self-adjuster so the adjuster can be turned.

If self-adjuster is touching the adjuster, you will not be able to shorten the adjuster. Thus the reason to pull/push away the self-adjuster from the adjuster.

 

My little brother is the mechanic in the family but he is laid. He says that the piece isn’t knocked out. He also thinks that since my brake cable is tight I might have a problem with either the handle not releasing properly or the exhaust pipes putting pressure on it.

 

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Your brother is "laid"? Lucky dog!! lol

 

Yes, the parking brake cable should be loosen.
Parking brake is the last adjustment after replacing shoes, drums, and adjusting the shoes.
It must be firm after 6-8 clicks of the pedal.

Brother laid is good - for him - LOL