Probably not, racists are fairly set in their ways.
Maybe ‘may have changed a life’ would’ve been better. I have to think in his quiet hours that older man is going to reflect. ...or again, hope he reflects on what happened in that photo.
I didn't know my father had racist feelings until years after he had passed away. Although Dad was born in the rural community of Green Station, Alabama in 1923, he had never used the “N” word nor any harsh or disparaging language at any time that I was aware of. My sister told me at least 20 years later that he had drawn the line with her when she wanted to attend a popular classmate's party on “the other side of town.”
One day in 1969, Dad started feeling bad and the plant doctor told him his symptoms indicated he was having a heart attack. The doctor sent him to the hospital. When he actually went into fibrillation, the head cardiac nurse, Mrs. Perry, was on duty. She happened to be very refined Black lady from a prominent family in the area that included the local police captain and an educator that a new school was later was named after. She immediately used the paddles to defibrillate him. The next day Mrs. Perry apologized for burning him with the paddles. My Dad was truly humbled and marveled about the fact that this woman could save his life, yet could apologize for doing something so trivial in comparison. My dad was always a Godly and reverent believer but I know that his weak heart was opened up a little more by Mrs. Perry that day. People can be changed by one simple act.