What interests me is getting to the truth of the Reconstruction Era. Some claim Republicans went too far in punishing the entire south. Others say the Republicans had to because governors were trying to roll back the clock on their former slaves.
There is a fair degree of accuracy in both statements.
I know many southerners that believe their area is 20-30 years behind in economic development due to the war. And most of the accepted history at the time does include well documented efforts by local governments run by southerners to suppress black civil rights, especially voting and gun ownership.