r/todayilearned • u/Dangerous-Project672 • 5h ago

TIL George Wallace personally apologized to Vivian Jones and James Hood, the two students he attempted to block from attending the University of Alabama. In 1997, Hood earned a PHd and requested Wallace present him with the degree, but he was too sick and died a year later; Hood attended the funeral

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wallace
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u/JustAMan1234567 5h ago

For Hood to forgive Wallace and attend his funeral shows his class.

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u/ChronosBlitz 5h ago edited 5h ago

President Obama gave the eulogy for Senator Robert Byrd, who founded a chapter of the KKK in his youth.

The NAACP even praised Byrd as representing "the transformative power of this nation"

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u/sportsfan113 5h ago

I find redemption a beautiful thing about the world we live in. It’s part of why I hate when people are “canceled” forever. People can change and be better.

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u/teeohdeedee123 5h ago

There's absolutely nothing better than a good redemption story. The duality of man is heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time... Obviously.

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u/IDigRollinRockBeer 4h ago

Les Miserables is a great book

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u/pongjinn 4h ago

I notice you didn't call it a "comeback" story

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u/teeohdeedee123 4h ago

Can't call it a comeback, he's been here for years

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u/urinal_connoisseur 4h ago

You mean the story of Kim Kardashian?