Azalea Trail Maids Remind NAACP Of Slavery

Alabama NAACP President Edward Vaughn thinks they were a poor choice for the presidential inaugural parade. He says they remind him of slavery days.

By: Katie Hammond | WKRG-TV
Published: January 08, 2009

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - State NAACP President Edward Vaughn
objects to having Mobile's Azalea Trail Maids as Alabama's only
group in the presidential inaugural parade. He says they remind him
of slavery days.
Vaughn says he thinks Alabama will be a "laughing stock" at
the inauguration.
The 50 high school seniors in the racially integrated Southern
hospitality group wear pastel-colored hoop dresses and matching
bonnets reminiscent of the Civil War era.
Vaughn of Dothan told the Montgomery Advertiser for a story Thursday that for the swearing-in of the nation's first black president, Barack Obama, marching bands from historically black Tuskegee University or Alabama State University would have been a better choice.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee, set up by Obama, selected
the parade participants.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)