Life in America for African-Americans in 1880s was comparable to that of the 1980s.
Then the turn of the century nadir occured.

From 1890 to 1940, white Americans became markedly more racist in their thinking and actions. This period is called the “Nadir of Race Relations.”

This period removed blacks from office and other positions of prominence, ushered in an openly racist president who helped pass racist legislation, elevated the KKK to a normalized, heroic status, and much more.

Nadirs in history are orchestrated, and great pains are taken to rollback progressive values and to revitalize sexist and racist values.

I believe another nadir is upon us. While this one follows the same patterns used over 100 years ago, it is worse in it's breadth & intensity.