Because certain racist laws in the South and elsewehere were still on the books as law, doesnt mean people abided by them or were even aware they were laws. The South held onto racial divison long after the rest of the country moved on, and I have a suspicion that it had to do more with a Hatfield/McCoy sort of feud, deep seated distrust on both sides. Let's admit that people are often crap which is what makes our Constitution and the rule of the law so very important.