Tim Wise: To understand white denial about American history, consider two photos.

[DallasNE]

26. September 4, 1957 Changed My Life

Growing up in rural Iowa I did not know that there was such a thing as segregated schools in America. Sure, I was very aware of Jackie Robinson but did not relate baseball integration with the broader American culture. That and a high school field trip to Chicago the following year and our tour to "Brownsville" (South Chicago) where on a work day there were all of these black men that were just wondering around on the streets, obviously not having a job. My America wasn't what I was taught it was in school at all. It was filled with hate. The year after that I started work in the office of Union Pacific in Omaha, NE and a couple of months later I asked why are there no Negroes working here - not a boss, but one of the old timers. He told me that Negroes only worked on passenger trains.

You quickly leaned that you don't question the status quo or you would lose your job. That is a pretty stiff deterent when you have a job that pays well.