How Did George Wallace Represent Black Alabamians?

For four terms, George Wallace served as the governor of Alabama. As governor, Wallace was exceptionally popular among the white rural farmers and workers. His popularity was mainly built upon black segregation he largely promoted throughout his career and his inclined favor towards poor white farmers (Eskew). Without the modern mindset that race should not matter, Wallace indirectly endangered the lives of numerous black Alabamians with his racially inclined speeches and campaigns. Though he apologized and admitted his mistakes in his later career, George Wallace harmed a numerous number of black Alabamians with his campaigns. Throughout his career, Wallace promoted numerous black discrimination campaigns, made Alabama a state only comfortable

Maggie Riechers, a writer who explores humanity, states that Wallace’s “opposition to the civil rights acts passed by Congress” won him the support of ten million people when he ran for president (Riechers). Wallace’s refusal of these federal orders granted the white supremacy powers even more power because they could openly engage in anti-desegregation acts without violating any laws. This was, in a way, like wood thrown in a dying fire, which caused a larger and more deadly fire that would swallow and destroy the livelihoods of the black people. In addition, Wallace himself stated that the government “fawn for political reasons over school integration” but then comments that there is hypocrisy because they “build barricades to stop residential integration” (Wallace). Yet what Wallace hasn’t considered is that race should not be considered as subject of matter to initiate segregation upon. Human is human, and citizen is citizen, no matter what “color” they are. This statement evidently presents the racism and bias Wallace has towards the black people because he believes that race separates people. Through the orders Wallace has ignored, he greatly encouraged racial discrimination and enlarged the gap between black and white

Wallace’s apology was accepted by some black people, such as a former civil rights activist Leonard Pitts Jr., who wrote in his article that it stuck him that Wallace was “a guy just trying to get into heaven” (Pitts Jr.). From this quote, some black people who were victims under his discrimination indeed forgave Wallace’s actions and accepted his apology. However, it is irrefutable that Wallace indeed won the hearts of black people with his sudden change of position. Before he participated in the civil rights movement, Wallace’s main followers were “white, working-class Southerners” (Biography). Yet after apology, he began to receive a “substantial amount of support from black political organizations and black voters” (Biography). During this position shift, Wallace was campaigning for his fourth term as governor and won in 1982 (Great). Wallace was also a candidate for the position of president during this time, which seems quite suspicious for him to abruptly change his opinion which he had broadcasted to the public for so long. It is clear to see, that Wallace was not sincerely apologizing. Instead, he was merely acting to gain more support and audience to achieve a high position in the