How old are you Skeever? I'm 53. I don't remember the brainwashed against anything offbeat, alternative, or vaguely left-wing. I wanted to paint, play sports, write poetry, play guitar my parents were all for it. None of the neighborhoods talked about that at all. Now, I hung out with friends of many ethnicities, they were just friends and we just played baseball, basketball ect... They invited me to their house and I the same.
I only learned in my teens of segregation. I was the 1st generation not to go to separate schools. I'm glad that did not happen.
Rich, It's easy. I've seen so many parents ruin their kids (My nephew & nieces) but making them act like adults. You are coming for a logical side. Thinking about how you grew up. I can assume your parents were very responsive to your thoughts and needs as a kid and into your teens. They allowed you to be expressive.
I've seen the opposite, where the kid took on adult responsibilities and that has molded my opinion that kids should be kids. It's 2 very different areas where, the adults that are good parents nourish their child. Allow them to grow and expand mentally. I've seen my nephew go to jail because he had no help, no boundaries. Ignorant to wrong and right. Not wanting to expand his learning. Because he had to be the adult early on.