The Broken Road
Page 21
I discovered my true self while traveling along the broken road. I learned that breaking away from a painful past is not always easy, but it is always right. And I found my voice for the benefit of history, for myself, my husband Mark, and our two sons, Leigh and Burns.
When I was a young girl, I rode on the wings of the politics of hate and fear as it carried me away from my childhood and conquered my dream of a simple life. But through it all, I refused to lose faith in my hope that one day my life would count for something. And I wanted to be remembered for who I was rather than who I belonged to.
The broken road set me free. It helped me to better understand the past, what made us, and who we are. And it taught me that my life could be measured not from where I came from but where I was going, and to believe that each of us has the power to change first our own lives and then the lives of others.
Several years ago, my son Burns came rushing through our back door. He was returning from a large business conference in Gulf Shores, Alabama. “Mom,” he said, “I was standing in the middle of a reception when a man walked up to me. He looked at the name badge on my coat, Morgan Burns Kennedy. ‘I know who you are,’ he said. ‘You are Peggy Wallace Kennedy’s son, aren’t you? Not Dad, not Paw Paw or Mawmaw Lurleen, just you!’ ”
Burns wrapped his arms around me for a lingering hug. “You made it, Mom, you made it,” he said.
The inscription on the Statue of Liberty reads: “Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, / The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. / Send these the homeless, tempest-tost to me, / I lift up my lamp beside the golden door!”
That is the American promise that men and women long for, that our sons and daughters fight for, and what our sense of morality should stand for. It is an American dream that gives rise to heartfelt moments that encourage us to believe that each of us has a personal obligation to live in the present and work each day for the promise of a more just America where life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness remains.
The mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and beyond never wavered in their belief that justice would come. And they prayed for the day when the fair winds of freedom and following seas would carry them to the shores of a life without fear and a heart of purpose.
There is power in confidence, in feeling loved and respected for who you are and what you believe; it is the reaching out and touching a soul that brings out the humanity of others. And there are moments in all of our lives when the future can become more important than the past, where “I shall overcome” becomes “I have overcome.”
Now is the time for Americans to hold hands with one another rather than holding down the inherent rights of the common man. For no one can ever measure the true worth of a mended heart that beats because someone cared. How can our sons and daughters stand on mountaintops if we do not teach them how to climb? If we live a life of purpose and hope, our voices will be heard and we will never have to think about the cost of a lost chance to say the right thing or stand up and be counted.
It’s like what Mamaw said to me after Mama died: “Peggy Sue, nobody is given the same opportunities in life but if we work hard and do right, we can make opportunities of our own. Your mama showed me that.” She said, “Now go out back and tell Mr. Henry to stop what he’s doing so he can ride us up by the broken road.”
My family. Back row, left to right: Morgan Burns Kennedy and Leigh Chancellor Kennedy. Front row, left to right: Hannah Torbert Kennedy (wife of Burns Kennedy), Justice H. Mark Kennedy, Peggy Wallace Kennedy, Maggie Rose Kennedy (granddaughter), and Stephanie Rion Kennedy (wife of Leigh Kennedy).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My journey along the the broken road began when I was young. It just took me a lifetime to reunite with it, understand it, and recognize those who joined me on my journey.
With love:
To my husband of forty-six years, Mark, I could not have taken this journey without you. Your love, your patience, and your talent of envisioning scenes with words helped bring the story to life. Such as what Mamaw says to Daddy after Mother’s inauguration: “Well, George, this is for sure one time you can thank Lurleen for keeping a roof over your head and food on the table. Can’t be any arguing about that anymore, now can there?”
To recognize:
My parents, George and Lurleen Burns Wallace; my maternal grandparents, Estelle Burns and Henry Morgan Burns; my son Army Major Leigh Chancellor Kennedy and his wife, Stephanie; my son Morgan Burns Kennedy and his wife, Hannah; our incredible granddaughter, Maggie Rose; and Mark’s parents, Douglas and Marjorie Kennedy.
Memories:
“I told you, you should write a book one day,” Mark’s mother once said.
My uncle Gerald, who meant so much to me and to Mark, is with me in spirit, still calling me “Peggy Sue” with a larger-than-life smile. His daughters, Debbie and Sherry, who love to tell stories about their dad.
My fond memories of the bigger-than-life stories of Cornelia Wallace and her mother, “Big Ruby,” always make me smile.
Daddy and Mama’s security details and their wives, who protected us, loved us, and were part of our family.
My constant light at the end of life’s tunnels, my dearest friend, Marianne Fulford.
My friends of many years, my Bellingrath Junior High School girls, the “BG’s,” who make me feel young again, and remind me of the better part of my past, including my precious friend, Janie.
I learned what love through forgiveness meant when Congressman John Lewis held my hand, called me “sister,” and walked with me across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.
The daughters of the civil rights movement: Kerry Kennedy, Donzaleigh Abernathy, Reverend Bernice King, Lynda Johnson Robb, and Luci Baines Johnson, who recognized me as one of their own.
My friend, Mary Luizzo Lilleboe, who is very special to me.
To all our friends, coworkers, supporters, law clerks, court reporters, judicial assistants, judges and justices, best friends and casual friends, and all of my fellow Alabamians who still walk up to me to share stories about Mama and Daddy, we thank you.
To so many others who befriended me, came to know me, and loved and encouraged me along the way, you will always inspire me to keep seeking higher ground.
To my literary agent, Gail Ross, and all her work to find The Broken Road a home, we are most grateful.
To my editor, Kenny Wapner, for all your advice, your insightful suggestions, and your support throughout. You made the book better.
To the author of the foreword, Dr. Wayne Flynt, thank you for your friendship and your contribution to the truth of The Broken Road.
Most importantly, my heartfelt thanks to my publisher, Bloomsbury USA, and especially to Nancy Miller, who believed in me and in my journey along the broken road. I am forever grateful. To all of you, my Bloomsbury family, your compassion, wisdom, and your talent make this story more than I could ever have dreamed it would be.
INDEX
Note: page numbers in italics refer to figures.
Abernathy, Donzaleigh, here
Abernathy, Ralph, here, here
African Americans
banning from inauguration parade (1962), here
as servants, relationship with, in South, here
voting rights of, here
Wallace’s early support for, here
Wallace’s fairness toward, as judge, here, here
white paternalism toward, as racism, here
Alabama State Troopers
attacks on civil rights protesters, here
expansion of role under Wallace, here
and opposition to desegregation, here
alcohol
Lurleen Wallace and, here, here
Wallace and, here, here
American Independent Party, here, here, here
assassination attempt on Wallace
author’s rush to hospital, here
breakfast on morning of, here
efforts at atonement following, here, here, here, here, here
family’s fear of, here
and inner circle’s fear of lost jobs, here, here
letters of support received, here, here
others wounded in, here
recovery in hospital, here, here
return to governorship following, here
surgeries and treatments, here, here
See also paraplegia of Wallace
Austin, Ruby Folsom (mother-in-law), here, here, here, here, here, here
Beach Mansion (Gulf Shores), here, here
Beasley, Jere, here, here
Bernice (Wallace family maid), here, here
Bill, Aunt, here, here, here
Birmingham
bombing of black church in, here
civil rights protests (1963), here
lunch counter sit-ins, here
strong KKK presence in, here, here
Bloody Sunday (1965)
author’s childhood memories of, here
forty-fourth anniversary of, here
Wallace’s role in, here, here, here
See also Selma to Montgomery March (1965)
Blount, Winton, here
boxing, Wallace’s interest in, here, here, here
Boyd, Delores, here, here
Brewer, Albert, here, here, here, here, here
Burns, Cecil (brother-in-law), here, here
Burns, Estelle “Mamaw” (mother-in-law), here
author’s visit with, on way to college, here
and birth of author, here
death of, here
and Gerald Wallace as peacemaker, here
on hard work and opportunity, here
Lurleen’s cancer and, here
and Lurleen’s election as governor, here
and Lurleen’s marriage to Wallace, here, here, here
strong character of, here
and vacation at Beach Mansion, here
views on Wallace, here
and Wallace’s election as governor, here, here
See also Burns family home
Burns, Henry (father-in-law), here
author’s visit with, on way to college, here
and birth of author, here
character of, here, here
job held by, here
later life of, here
Lurleen’s cancer and, here
and Lurleen’s decision to leave Wallace, here, here
and vacation at Beach Mansion, here
on Wallace, here
and Wallace’s election as governor, here
See also Burns family home
Burns family home
author at, after parents’ reconciliation, here
broken road as landmark for, here
described, here, here
family harmony in, here, here, here
Gerald’s visit, to reconcile Wallaces, here
Lurleen’s move back to, here
as now abandoned, here
Wallaces’ reconciliation at, here
career of Wallace
boxing at University of Alabama, here
as circuit court judge, here, here, here, here, here
early law career, here, here
election to Alabama legislature, here, here
late-life reflections on, here
law work after 1958 election loss, here, here, here
as Tuskegee Institute board member, here
See also entries under election, governor, presidential campaign
carnival ride, Wallace’s strong reaction to, here
Carter, Asa, here, here
Carter, Jimmy and Rosalynn, here
character of Wallace
abusive remarks to family, here, here
ambition of, here
anger after 1958 election loss, here
brother Gerald on, here
charisma of, here
complexity of, here
craving for attention, here, here
disinterest in creature comforts, here
dislike of rejection, here
early family life and, here, here, here
fighting spirit of, here, here
as grudge-bearing, here
importance of control to, here
inability to laugh at self, here
indirect punishment of enemies, here
insecurity, here, here
love of women’s attention, here
as mean-spirited, here
obsession with politics, here, here, here, here
paraplegia and, here
passion for fighting and huckstering, here
preference for power over principle, here
reluctance to take blame, here, here
restlessness and constant activity, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here
small circle of trusted friends, here, here
stinginess of, here
wife on, here
circuit court judge, Wallace as, here, here, here, here, here
civil rights activists
belief in coming of justice, here
Birmingham protests (1963), here
campaign for governor (1962) and, here
growth in public support of, here
ongoing need for, here
Wallace’s awareness of futility of resisting, here
Wallace’s silence on violence against, here
CNN, author’s article for, here
Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), here
Connor, Bull, here, here, here, here
desegregation of public schools
at author’s school, here
schools’ support of, here
and states’ rights, here
and threats against black students, here
Wallace’s opposition to, here
See also University of Alabama desegregation
election of 1958
Wallace family struggles after loss in, here
Wallace’s turn to racist politics after, here, here
election of 1958, campaign for, here, here
African American support, here
announcement rally, here
concession speech, here
Lurleen and, here, here, here, here
Patterson’s racist rhetoric in, here
rallies, described, here
runoff election, loss of, here
election of 1962, here
election of 1962, campaign for
civil rights movement and, here
KKK support, here
Wallace’s frenzied campaigning, here, here
Wallace’s platform in, here, here
and Wallace’s turn to racist politics, here, here, here, here
election of 1966, Lurleen Wallace’s victory in, here, here
election of 1970, here
importance to Wallace, here, here
Nixon’s interference in, here
runoff election in, here
Wallace’s promise not to run in, here, here
Wallace’s victory in, here
election of 1974, here
election of 1982, here, here, here
family background of Wallace, here, here, here
family life of Wallaces
after assassination attempt, here, here
after Lurleen’s death, here
at Beach Mansion, here
in Clayton, here, here, here, here, here, here, here
early poverty, here, here
as governor-elect, here
in Governor’s Mansion, here, here, here
improvement, after reconciliation, here
loss of, with death of Lurleen, here
move from Clayton to Montgomery, here
during second term as governor, here
sense of emptiness in, here
struggles after 1958 election loss, here, here, here
vacation at Beach Mansion (1965)
, here
vacation in Florida (1957), here
Wallace’s affairs and, here, here
Wallace’s limited time with children, here
Folsom, “Big” Jim, here, here
Freedom Riders, here
governor, Wallace as
after assassination attempt, here
first dinner at Governor’s Mansion, here
harsh tactics against opponents, here
inauguration (1962), here
last term, sad circumstances of, here, here
and Lurleen as partner in Wallace brand, here
popularity of, here
retirement’s effect on many lives, here
and term limits (succession law), here, here, here
governorship of Alabama
as leverage for Lurleen to control Wallace, here
as Wallace’s life-long ambition, here, here, here
grave of Wallace, author’s visit to, here
Hatcher, Jimmy, here, here, here, here, here
Hogarth, William, here, here
Holcey, Eddie, here, here, here, here
Iraq War, here, here
IRS, Nixon’s political use of, here, here
Jim Crow laws, and black voting rights, here
Johnson, Lyndon B., here
just America, as goal, here
Kennedy, H. Mark (son-in-law), here, here, here, here
and Alabama Children’s Trust Fund, here
and Bloody Sunday anniversary, here
campaign for Alabama Supreme Court, here
career of, here, here, here
courtship of author, here
family memories of, here, here
family orientation of, here
first meeting of author, here
first meeting of Wallace, here
and Lisa Taylor, here
marriage life, here
reelection battle for Supreme Court, here
retirement, here
visits to Wallace in later life, here, here, here, here, here, here
Kennedy, John F., here, here, here
Kennedy, Leigh Chancellor (grandson), here, here
childhood of, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here
as soldier, here, here
and Wallace legacy, here, here, here
as young man, here, here, here
Kennedy, Morgan Burns (grandson), here, here
birth of, here, here
childhood of, here, here, here, here, here, here
and Wallace legacy, here, here, here
as young man, here, here
Kennedy, Peggy Wallace (daughter), here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here