Trail Maids Get Partial Apology

Mobile's Azalea Trail Maids get an apology for one comment made by Alabama's NAACP President!

President Edward Vaughn said last week that the hoop dresses remind him of the "slave era." He also said the girls would be the laughing stock of President-Elect Barack Obama inaugural parade next week.

Vaughn has had a change of heart on at least one of those comments!

He stands behind the dress comment but apologized for calling the girls a laughing stock. "I said they would be laughed at and I apologize for that. I should not have said that." Vaughn says the antebellum outfits still remind him of slave times. "I'm a historian and I know the history of Alabama. Yes, they do."

Vaughn says he wants to Azalea Trail Maids to go to Washington. He just wanted them to have company. "It would be nice if we could add with them the bands from Tuskegee or Alabama State or Alabama A&M to show at least the African-American side of it since the Civil War movement started here in Alabama." The Trail Maids are the only group from Alabama invited to participate in the parade.

Mobile City Council President Reggie Copeland appreciates Vaughn's apology. "It takes a big man to apologize. I thank him and admire him for doing it. We all make mistakes. We all say some things that we don't mean to say sometimes."

The girls now have all the money they need to make the trip. Copeland donated using 10,000 from his discretionary fund to help the girls make the trip. The Mobile County Commission donated 10k as well.

Vaughn says he should get some credit for helping bring attention to their cause. "I think the Trail Maids ought to put me on the payroll for blowing this thing up and getting them the kind of support they've been able to get around the world. They probably would not have gotten that had I not made some comment."

The Mobile Chapter of the NAACP made a 500 dollar donation Tuesday evening. Asked if the state chapter would pitch in, Vaughn says they can't afford it!