But I'm guessing its always been like this or worse

I'd say, "Yes" ... every bit as bad, with far fewer checks. What we are seeing is nothing new to those of us that lived it.

I just shudder to think what they totally got away with and that almost nobody even knew about. In a racist small town stuff that would be circulated worldwide today on social media probably wouldn't even make the local newspaper.

I have specific memories of both my mother telling me what he was like when she was a child and of him boasting. He was a pathological bully who was fond of "pistol whipping" people, and black people were easy prey. I think, though this I don't remember, that they were because his "colleagues" were similar. I was terrified of him, and for good reason. He showed his colors with us as well.