(crickets chirping) - How many times have you watched on the evening news and some event has taken place in the state of Alabama, and the person that the news reporter finds to interview misrepresent who we are, The stereotype of Alabama.

I take great pride in proving that stereotype wrong.

(gentle folk instrumental music) I did a term paper in high school, and it was called Huntsville Revisited.

And I shared these positive attributes of my beloved hometown, and I decided one day I'm going to write a book called Huntsville Revisited.

And I determined that I was one day going to open a museum of Huntsville history.

So as I've gone through life, I've had a purpose collecting things throughout my lifetime that one day this will be in my museum.

These are achievements that citizens from Huntsville have contributed throughout the nation.

This flag flew on the space shuttle.

and it now has a home in my museum.

I was talking with an older white lady, She says, “We don't need to see this kind of thing.” And I said, “Well, ma'am, this is a museum.

"You know, do we not need to "see those things anymore as well?” She says, “Nobody here, you know, "experienced that kind of thing.

And I pointed to my skin.

I said, “Ma'am, I lived this.” We're not going to learn it by just sweeping it under the rug.

I want to let folks know our complete story, and then let█s sit down and reason together and live on this planet in peace.

(somber instrumental music) So when I attended school, I started off in kindergarten with a segregated school.

Alabama integrated its public schools in 1963.

Broke my heart.

This this was my all time favorite school.

So I at that time had to transfer and that was my first full experience of attending school with white students.

Some of the teachers let you know in no uncertain terms that they really didn't care to have you there.

Getting called, you know, all types of racial slurs.

It was just the norm.

So it wasn't a daily thing, but it was something that you grow accustomed to.

Black people in southern Alabama, say you know, you all don't understand what we're going through.

We didn't have the fire hoses.

We have the space program, these high tech jobs.

Racial injustices here really kind of had to be swept under the rug a bit.

But it happened.

So if I can inspire people through my museum I want them to see that we can be agents of change.

- I would like to honor my father in recognition of your noble impact as an outstanding citizen.

(crowd applauds) - (William) Thank you.

Thank you so much.

The stories that my ancestors shared with me formed my view, my worldview, my view of race relations in Alabama and throughout the South and even throughout the country.

My grandma Lucille and my granddaddy George owned this property, Never heard one of them utter any hatred towards any other race, although they experienced the struggle.

I was asked once, you know, does it make me angry seeing what ancestors have gone through?

But it doesn't.

Gives me a sense of pride, godly pride, if there's such a thing.

But appreciating what they went through enduring the whip.

Enduring a lot of heartache and heartbreak.

And on their shoulders I stand today, man.

(hopeful instrumental music) I'm proud to be from this great state.

And I understand that I have a duty, a civic duty to change that stereotype.

That's a role I accept.

You know, I'm an Alabama ambassador, but I wear it proudly.

(hopeful instrumental music)