General Discussion

I can definitely see how general labor could be a step up from share-cropping especially how they could be locked into it.
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I think depending on a person's age, and what they pay attention to - especially when a lot of events happen in a somewhat shorter period of time; they can take in a lot. You might be a few yrs older? I'm 73. I was paying attention to politics by the time I was around 12 - 13.
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I was 12 in 65 so I wasn't paying specific attention to the Civil Rights Act. Otoh....
by the time I was 10 I definately was getting attuned to what racist attitudes & actions were, and increased understanding fairly rapidly. I'm white and my parents were anti-racist. Over time I could have, and did have different friends. We had rhe first Afro-Caribean students in our ?5th grade class.
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My mom in particular (around her more) pointed out alot of stuff up here north, and no just in The South in racist actions of others. She hated cruelty in general. I think she also saw the difference between her good treatment as a 1st Gen Greek-American vs and shabbily or worse treatment of many Black Americans who's roots went back hundreds of years!

Anyway, I've learned historical, and current, read and listen personally, and radio/TV, and paid/ still pay attention to these issues since my tween-hood.