On this date in 1868, the Alabama Legislature convened in Montgomery, marking a significant moment in American history. This was the first legislative session after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, with a notable composition: 26 African American legislators and 106 white legislators. The inclusion of Black lawmakers was a result of the Reconstruction period, which sought to integrate freed slaves into society and politics, following the passage of the 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

This session was a significant step toward political and social equality for African Americans, but it also faced strong opposition from white Southerners. The era would eventually give way to the Jim Crow laws, which sought to disenfranchise Black voters and strip away the civil rights gains made during Reconstruction. Despite this, the 1868 Alabama legislature was a notable moment in the struggle for racial equality in America.