Well, most have heard the claims that it has roots in a culture of racism.
I mean, that's really REALLY understating it. They all know exactly what the confederacy was and what it stood for. Just because they're in denial and/or won't admit it openly, doesn't mean they don't know. There are also people in this world who whitewash the legacy of Fascists under the pretext that they made the trains run on time - this doesn't mean they are genuinely unaware of the mass murder.
But when they don’t believe it, and kids aren’t born racist so if it’s not reinforced they don’t WANT to believe their grandad hates their little black friend, they absolutely are looking for justification
And this whole thought process is pure racism.
"They don't believe it" only means they personally don't want to own slaves today. They don't even believe slavery was wrong back then - they all think it was just how it was back in those times and it's wrong for us to judge! Because they are racists.
kids aren't born racist, yes, but you're 100% wrong about "it's not reinforced". It obviously is. These are racist people from racist cultures. Proof: they proudly display symbols and paraphernalia of slavers.
yes, they don't want to believe that granddad hates their little Black friend. That's 100% racist.
"It just can have poor consequences when it turns out granddad was a nazi." - exactly, it's 100% about protecting their own state of deliberate denialism. They are racist, they know it, and they work very hard to UNknow it.
I should add that there are DEFINITELY many racists. I’m talking about a minority here
The minority you're talking about is also 100% racist.