As a person who grew up in a small rural school we did not have any black folks in our neighborhood though we lived close to South Bend In. We had a few Mexicans. There were mint farms nearby on what was called Muck farms for the rich nature of the black soil. The Mexicans came in to bring in the crops.

The farm had small houses that they lived in. I can remember as a small child seeing a 2 or 3 ton flat bed at the neighborhood store with a canvas top that contained maybe 20 people in the back on benches. The truck memory was vivid because of the elaborate pin striping. I do not remember ever seeing any acts of racism, though I am certain there were.

There were black folks in South Bend. My dad told me that all people were created equal. In my thoughts, my dad as an individual was not racist, though the racism was ingrained in our society for sure. It worked against people of color. It was for sure not the high point in that generation.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.