We have really come a long way

I was doing some research today that required me to look at some old files from the Civil Rights era. If you ever think that we haven't come very far in regards to race relations, you should read some of the letters of opposition to segregated areas being close to white facilities. One lady wrote that by allow Negroes into the park, you would be polluting it and forever ruining it. And if you let them use the lake to swim, the water would be forever contaminated, and the cattle or people who drink it down stream will be ill. She also makes several references to their supposed overabundant drinking problem, which apparently all black people participated in. I read several of the types of letters and the things these people believed and said are just astonishing. Luckily, there were also several people who had some common sense and decency in them to balance it out.