My parents both grew up in the segregated South. While there were obviously many battles to fight, they both spoke of the comfort and support of having black teachers and classmates; black doctors, bankers, lawyers etc. They both first confronted racism directly when they went away to school for the first time.
I, on the other hand, had the fortune of growing up in Boston in the 1970s. As much as anywhere in the country at that time, Boston represented the epitome of aggressive racism as a result of the busing programs. White men threw epithets, bricks, and rocks at buses of young black kids just trying to go to school. While I didn't live in the midst of that, thank God, I was 25 miles away; my suburb was certainly "connected" to good 'ole Southie!
I lived the first 4 or 5 years of my life in Philadelphia - among black folks. When I got to Massachusetts I remember being faced with racism as if I'd been pushed into a freezing pool. Among my early memories is being chased home by a gang of white kids (I was rescued by my Dad who happened to be driving by), the multiple nigger callings, as well as the omni-present "invisible man" syndrome etc.
More later . . . I'm looking forward to hearing your memories.
Onward and Upward!