Money For the Trail Maids

Barack Obama Parade After harsh words from the state's NAACP president financial help is rolling in to help pay for the Washington trip.

by Tiffany Craig

Published: Fri, January 09, 2009 - 6:12 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, January 13, 2009 - 11:26 pm CST

After Alabama NAACP President Edward Vaughn said the Azalea Trail Maid dresses remind him of slave days, support of more than one kind is rolling in for the girls.

Edward Vaughn told News 5 on Thursday that the girls would be the laughing stock of the inauguration and shouldn't represent the state. "I just think that we needed something that could show Alabama's great progress rather than something that shows a shameful past."

Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine says enough's enough. He sent Vaughn a letter asking for an apology. "I was extremely ticked off, extremely ticked off."

Trail maid President Andy Marasca won't comment on the controversy but tells us the girls and the dresses are always a big hit. "The dresses get noticed and oh... so beautiful. It's always a positive reaction. In seven years, I can't remember a negative reaction to one of these girls."

Of the current 50 Trail Maids, Marasco says 39 are white, 8 are black and 3 are Asian.

The 3-day trip to Washington will cost the organization about 32,000 dollars and the clock is ticking. The Trail Maids have spent the past month raising money for this trip. They're done everything from bagging groceries at the store to asking drivers for money at red lights.

The girls alone have raised about 8,000 dollars. Now the county and city plan to pitch in 10,000 each to make sure the girls get to Washington. The girls need 4,000 more to make the trip.

WKRG.com » News Stream » Alabama

Video
Photo

Embed:

Photo courtesy Lauri Ward

WKRG.com Related

News –› Alabama

Discuss this in the forum

Email to a Friend

Printer Friendly

Download Video

candyrose Says:

Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 5:44 pm

Ms. Craig, Just want to express my thanks for all the great coverage YOU and channel 5 have given these young ladies. It’s so hard to believe someone like vaughn would say the bad things he did about these ladies and get away with it. Has the commissioner heard anything back from vaughn other than his pitiful so called apology for saying the ladies were going to be an embarrasement to Alabama? You could tell he wasnt sincere in that apology and he still believes the lies he told. Hope they sue the heck out of vaughn and his so called naacp group for slander.. Have the ATM received enough money for the trip yet? I would send vaughn’s pitiful $500 back to him as I sure would’t want him to brag about sending monies so they could make it to the parade. Thanks again!!!

Lauri Says:

Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 5:29 pm

Thanks so much for posting my photo, on the Azalea Trail Maids! Hopefully they will be able to raise the extra $4,000.00! I have no doubt that they will!
Lauri

ronald t Says:

Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 4:07 am

i think mr vaughn should pull his pants down under his drawers dress up like a moon pie and rap down the street.then he could be in his on parade.

DDD Says:

Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 3:52 pm

I myself have never seen the Trail Maids in person. But what I have seen in pictures and on T.V. I think the girls are just beautiful. I would love to have a drees like that for me. As for the so called president of the NAACP, Vaughn. I feel that he may just be a JEALOUS old man that didn’t get a special invitation to go to Washington and be seen by millions and millions of people. So, Mr. Vaughn get over it. And let the Maids do what they have worked so hard and so long to do and enjoy being themselves a true TRAIL MAID

uamags Says:

Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 3:52 pm

Shark:

Mobile Azalea Trail
PO BOX 6746
Mobile, AL 36606

sharkb8 Says:

Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 2:05 pm

Can we get an address of where to send donations?

southfan1981 Says:

Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 1:30 pm

I fully support THE WIFE’S comments. I am fairly liberal however, those moves do nothing to improve the self image of the young men and women making out like they are auditioning for a job at Cookies and Cream. ICK!

Could someone please tell us why those Bump and Grind moves are even used in bands, parades and dance lines?

briarrose Says:

Fri, Jan 09, 2009 at 11:56 pm

In the end, Vaughn’s comments seemed to help them rather than hurt them; the community is so riled up that I bet they’ll end up with a little spending money along with that 32k.

The wife Says:

Fri, Jan 09, 2009 at 10:06 pm

Yes, Mr. Vaughn, why don’t we show our progress with the girls marching in the street half naked doing the “bump and grind”, instead of these beautiful, talented and intelligent young women who are dressed in such decent clothes?

CarolynB Says:

Fri, Jan 09, 2009 at 7:01 pm

The election of president Obama has shown all of America that race should never again play any part in the division of our country. If we are to truly embrace the future, we can’t keep looking back to the negative aspects of the past. The shameful and hurtful remarks of the NAACP president proves that his “outdated” organization no longer has any relevance in our changing society.