MovieChat Forums > George Wallace (1997) Discussion > George Wallace - back and forth, back an...

George Wallace - back and forth, back and forth...

posted 12 years ago by Funky12345
4 replies | jump to latest

I have to admit I don't understand George Wallace. At first, when he was friends with Jim Folsom he seemed to completely agree with him about how blacks and whites were equals. And then, when he realized he needed to distance himself from Jim, he spewed out such racist hatred, and then after he was shot he apologized to the congregation - after which he, in his next campaign for governor, received a majority of black votes.

He didn't seem to know what he believed in, and that's what made him such a paradox. But, in my opinion, what was going on with George was, throughout his political career, spoke about what people wanted to hear and changed it according to the popular opinion to win elections to eventually become President. I think winning and fame was everything to him, even if he had to sell his soul to get it.

Any thoughts on this?

Judge Judy: "I suggest you sign up for therapy immediately."

[–] cookiela2001 12 years ago

Mmmm....I think he believed the things he stood for.

[–] hackraytex 11 years ago

I was moved in the movie by the apology scene in the church and believe he was sincerely sorry for the hurt and pain he caused. I hope he is resting in peace.

[–] g32656-1 10 years ago

When he wasn't a racist he could not win election. He became a racist and won. He said in his first election he talked about schools and roads and lost. In his second election he started talking about segregation and people started whistling and stamping their feet and he won. I don't know what is worst being a racist or acting like one for personal gain. I believe his change was sincere and so did lots of blacks in Alabama.

[–] schuhj 10 years ago

Wallace was first of all a “moderate” with populist leanings. Populists were always conflicted on the race question. On the one hand, they represented the poor people of the South, and that meant whites and blacks. A union of the two groups would have meant popular control of the government and the establishment of a welfare-state. On the other hand, it would have meant social equality with the blacks. More than that, it meant in some parts of the southern states, where the blacks were in the majority, it meant black control of the government, and ascendency. The Civil Rights movement pushed the populists firmly into the racist camps because they did not trust the blacks. The revolutionary thrust of the movement and the emergence of black nationalism, which was the black counterpart of the White Supremists, frightened many white moderates of all stripes, and it was to this camp that Wallace owed his allegiance and his ascendency