If you were 76, the schools most certainly did not worry about race or gender questions because bias and discrimination were acceptable in public life.      

That doesn't mean black people, women, gays weren't discriminated against Mike.  Not all Americans were as  content with life in the 1950s .  Thousands of poeople have been murdered for no other reason that being a woman, gay, or black somewhere in the nation during our lives.  (I'm 63)
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Love does not come easily or without struggle I'm afraid.    It's hard to have compassion for lives that we cannot, or did not, experience  ourselves.   It's not impossible.

Happy New Year Mike, may 2017 bring peace.