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TIL the lone Supreme Court justice to dissent in Plessy v. Ferguson grew up in a household with a light-skinned, blue-eyed slave who was treated much like a family member. The slave, Robert Harlan, was believed to be John Harlan’s older half-brother. Even John’s father believed Robert was his son.

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M7PVa TIL, that there is a "desert" in Japan with large sand dunes, a museum of sand sculptures and even camal rides for tourists
N71NP TIL the Woolworths store in Australia is unconnected to the historic brand in the UK and the US. The name was registered by the Sydney founders as a dare to see if it would be allowed. Despite the brand name being well established overseas it was available in New South Wales.
wLGVJ TIL it's been 125,000 generations since the emergence of human species, 7,500 generations since human physiology reached what is essentially its modern state, 500 generations since the agricultural revolution, and ONLY 20 generations since the scientific revolution!
ZOJY TIL that the guy who wrote The Anarchist Cookbook became a teacher, denounced his book, and was unaware of how many perpetrators of violent crimes had a copy of his book in their possession.
KYJaE TIL Abraham Lincoln actually liked the song “Dixie” despite its confederate association. After Richmond was captured he requested a band play it saying “Our adversaries over the way attempted to appropriate it, but I insisted yesterday that we fairly captured it.”