Unfortunately, propagating ignorance is useful as a tool to keep change from ever occurring.
I’m a white dude that lived in the South for 42 of my 51 years. I was fortunate that my parents were flower children that didn’t fit in with the hate scene of the time, and they taught me to respect everyone.
Their biggest hurdle was the limit of their knowledge. Like me, they weren’t taught the history of atrocities that we’re perpetrated against our citizens. The advantage that I had as a parent, over what my parents had, was the good fortune to live in an age of enlightenment through information.
I did my best to make sure that I passed on that part of my parents legacy to my, now adult, children while also making sure they understood what the actual history looked like in our country. I’m hopeful they’ll levy their advantages to continue to help break the cycle.
Being clear, living in the sticks for 42 years of my life wasn’t ideal. That is unless you like living in a dry county surrounded by narrow-minded, puritanical shitbirds that were working OT to make sure people either went to church, or publicly shame them if they weren’t. There was also the in crowds that held people back or elevated them, depending on which family you were related to.
I do miss the hunting and fishing, though I can head back any time I want to do that. Meanwhile, I’ll stay where I can maintain my chill by having copious resources readily available when I want them, and enough anonymity to enjoy them without anyone asking me where I was last Sunday.