[jurisdog]

Do you really believe that in 1964, at the beginning of the Vietnam war, there were laundromats that openly excluded blacks with signs in the windows? Especially ones that served military bases?

If thats true, I would be incredibly shocked to find that out. If someone knows of a way to verify that aspect of the movie, I'd really appreciate the info.

[TADSLOS]

I believe it. Columbus GA and especially Phenix City AL were notorious for this. It's deep south and a military posts didn't matter much. I'm sure there's plenty of vets here who can verify. It was very palpable, (although not obvious as signs in the window) as late as 1975 when I first went there.

[au eagle]

Sadly, more than likely true. In 1968, a soldier from my hometown in South Georgia was killed in Vietnam. A black soldier served as a pall bearer. While in town, he was refused entrance to a local "whites only" restaurant. Believe you me, this made an impression on a 12 year old and a lot of other people. From that time on, our family did not frequent the door of that establishment. BTW, my parents were Republican (another oddity in South Georgia in 1968) and not at all liberal, just human.