I am a product of Florida public schools.

[Chainfire]

16. The same here (50s-60s)

Our national history was Christian, pure and lily white. Indians were enemies, not victims. Confederate generals were heroes, people like M.L.K. were terrorists. I was an adult before I learned I started finding out that it was all a lie.

The school that I went to in Altha, Fl. played Dixie before the start of football games, and Lord have mercy on anybody who didn't remove their hats, and weren't quite and reverent during the playing. Our school, in a different small town, was integrated when I was in the 9th grade, and it was considered a horrible and disastrous event. It was unthinkable to sit by or eat with blacks. Integration led to the opening of two new "Christian Schools" in my small county, and the white kids who's parents had money flocked to them. Those kids became Republicans. That was my "normal."

I had a lot of unlearning to do.