1984 – George Wallace Apologizes to Black Americans

On May 14, 1984, George Wallace, the former Alabama governor infamous for his staunch pro-segregation stance in the 1960s, publicly apologized to Black Americans during a campaign for his final term in office. Wallace, who had declared “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever,” appeared at a Black church in Montgomery in a wheelchair, having survived an assassination attempt years earlier that left him paralyzed. With visible emotion, he asked for forgiveness, stating, “I was wrong. Those days are over, and they ought to be over.” Many were skeptical of the timing and sincerity, while others in Alabama’s Black community appreciated the symbolic gesture. Though Wallace’s political legacy remained deeply controversial, his statement on May 14 became part of a broader national conversation about race, accountability, and the political exploitation of segregation. The moment reflected both the enduring wounds of the past and the complexities of political redemption.