There was a lot of sympathy for Indigenous folks growing up in my classrooms. But also lots of racism among students (among all races, mind you; “race jokes” or racist jokes were also very rife). I think we just kinda had more sympathy for Indigenous folks though. But I feel that it was also borne out of some misconceptions and a sense of “pity” or whatever you call it; but the Indigenous definitely suffered alright and the U.S.'s policies to them are still genocidal to this day.

It also helped that we have a few Indigenous teachers even in grade school (elementary to high school).

The history on Indigenous history on the Americas (with a focus on the United States in particular) was very useful to me.

I had it in college. Honestly, I remember it well. It was arguably the first class that was truly kinda formative to me intellectually-speaking.

But honestly?

My schooling years sucked.

Evangelical principal that allowed sexual abuse to happen while he looked the other way (this was in my high school); constantly being sent to special ed classes; being almost killed and threatened by a racist who later joined the National Guard; rampant racist bullying in general; teachers allowing racist discourse, etc.