Alabama in 1963

Alabama was one of the major battlefields of the Civil Rights movement in 1963.  If Kenny's parents watched the evening news, they would have seen several news stories that would have made them nervous about heading South.  Here's a few examples:

Governor George Wallace's 1963 Inaugural Address

George Wallace was elected Governor of Alabama in the November 1962 elections. Wallace was a supporter of segregation and strongly opposed the Federal Government's attempts to end the segregation of public schools and other educational institutions.  In his inauguration speech on January 14, 1963, Wallace's defiant claim of "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" became the rallying cry of integration opponents everywhere. 

Here's a clip of the part of the speech

 

Freedom Marches

In 1963, adults and children took to the streets to participate in nonviolent marches to protest againt the racial injustices they endured in Alabama.  During the first march done by the adults, the police arrested the participants including Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ralph Abernathy.  The next day the children marched and were arrested too.  On the third attempt to march, things turned violent as the police used fire hoses and police dogs against the marchers.  These violent images shown on television newscasts were seen by the entire world.  The public outcry and Federal pressure were enough to finally bring bring the end to Alabama's segregationist laws.