My point is that many people learn to lie to themselves in order to validate something they INTEND to support anyway....just as many Southerners told themselves that Blacks were basically 'inferior' and incapable of voting, self-government and higher functionality.
   They HAD to believe obviously false assertions and ignore evidence to the contrary in order to perpetuate the economic system they had built ON slavery. There are similar forces and false beliefs and assertions going on today....and you KNOW a few of the old ones about African-American are still alive and fueling some decisions....most have just learned not to say it out loud and have substituted 'code' language.