When you pass by The Alabama Education Association (AEA) Building on Dexter at Hull, you should realize you are looking at the real capitol of the State. The AEA was founded in 1856 to help local school boards control the teachers, but circa 1970 the organization combined forces with the Black teachers association (ASTA), to fill the power vacuum created when Federal Judge Frank Johnson crushed the local school boards during the 1960’s Civil Rights upheaval. AEA, which now has over 100,000 members,  quickly became the most powerful political force in Alabama. Their headquarters, pictured above, was erected ca 1988; the small trees help it immensely, don’t you think.

-Charles Humphries