This wasn't centuries ago. It was 16 years before Ronald Reagan was elected president (after launching his campaign, quite decisively, in Philadelphia, Mississippi). teenvogue.com/story/mississi… via @TeenVogue
And what were these murders -- which were three of many, many more lynchings in Mississippi, mainly of Black activists that summer -- about? Stopping Black Americans from voting and thus being full citizens... This has been a theme of American history from day one. 
The sheer savagery of it puts the lie to the notion that America has never been, a racist country. Misuse, abuse and hatred of Black people, and anyone else who would stand with Black and other nonwhite people in favor of equality and justice has run deep in the soil since 1619.
And no one is saying America is IRREDEEMABLY racist. The existence of good men like Goodman, Schwerner, and the many like them who from the start fought to right the wrongs of America's slavery-marred founding is proof of our constant, stubborn stride toward a more perfect union.
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