Open and wide spread racism was notable when I was a kid in the 1960s. And it was not solely in the South. White players would have tried to hurt a black player on an opposing team, maybe a bit less so by 1968, but certainly in 1934. It was accepted, "politically correct", and politicians got elected by openly espousing it.
I remember when Jimmy Carter was elected governor, he had run what I considered a racist campaign, but he gave his inaugural address that changed that perception, for me anyway, and made a lot of enemies. Carter's opponent was a Republican who I thought was quite moderate and sensible, Hal somebody, who was a local TV reporter and commentator.
He had no chance, none.
I've noted before how shocked, literally, I have been en famille in France among highly educated people who are very frank and open about their racism.
It's not done here, at all, ever, in my experience.