No need to re-visit history. I was there. My post clearly referred to "the part of the country where I lived". For Wisconsin high school kids in 1955 and 1956, Alabama, Mississippi, and Southern preachers were in another universe.
In the 50's I was growing up in Tucson, AZ - another universe removed from WI. Yet we had TV and radio news as well as two daily newspapers that covered those social unrests quite thoroughly. And while I don't remember specifics I am quite sure the major events were covered in school as well.