I always heard George Wallace was quite liberal for Alabama of that time, and only turned to his racist ways out of political expediency. He certainly seemed to work well with black politicians and constituents during the last years of his career. But I know little of Alabama politics and will bow to your experience there. The south is a strange place, though, those not familiar with the culture can never understand it.

And from personal experience, I learned that even if you, and your parents, were born there, unless your roots go back much deeper than that, and it shows in your skin and your accent, you will always be a stranger.