For years Ive believed that Alabama is one of the most fucked up states of the Union

[Awsi Dooger]

22. I drove through Alabama with my parents several years later

I've told this story here previously. The Alabama state troopers were stopping every car and sticking George Wallace bumper stickers on the front and back. My dad refused. There were heated words from both sides. They attempted to apply the stickers. My dad stepped outside and stopped them. Increased heated words. Now there are cars lined up in both directions because all the troopers are surrounding my dad, trying to intimidate him. I was still in the car so I've never been exactly sure what was said at that point.

We drove away and were followed by two of the patrol cars. I had my head turned around in disbelief the entire time. They tailed us very closely to the state line, which was maybe 20 miles east.

That was my first stark glimpse at how the Deep South differed from everything else I was familiar with. We lived in Miami.