I don't think it was lost tbh, it was an issue the country actively avoids discussing. Any time people talk about "how" an issue is brought up as opposed to the actual issue itself you know it is

It's like when media outlets dig in to the past of Trayvon or any of the other guys that were shot knowing fully well that adding that to the mix steers the conversation away from police tactics into endless debates about extraneous factors that the police officer would have known nothing about before they shoot. I will just leave this summary of polls taken during the civil rights movement. Notice that whether it was sit-ins, demonstrations etc the overall impression
http://www.crmvet.org/docs/60s_crm_public-opinion.pdf
Gallup Poll (AIPO) [May, 1961]
Do you think 'sit-ins' at lunch counters, 'freedom buses,' and other demonstrations by Negroes will hurt or help the Negro's chances of being integrated in the
South?
57% Hurt
28% Help
16%No opinion
Methodology: Conducted by Gallup Organization May 28-June 2, 1961, and based on
personal interviews with a national adult sample of 1,502. [US
gallup Poll (AIPO) [June, 1963]
DO YOU THINK MASS DEMONSTRATIONS BY NEGROES ARE MORE LIKELY TO HELP OR MORE LIKELY TO HURT THE NEGRO'S CAUSE FOR RACIAL EQUALITY?
27% HELP
60% HURT
4%MAKE NO DIFFERENCE (VOL.)
9%NO OPINION
Methodology: Conducted by Gallup Organization June 21-June 26, 1963, and based o
n personal interviews with a national adult sample of 1,606. [US
Gallup Poll (AIPO) [March, 1965]
How would you feel about clergymen in your own church taking part in protest marches on civil rights issues. Would you approve or disapprove of this?
33% Approve
56% Disapprove
12% No opinion
Harris Survey [August, 1966]
I'd like to ask you if you were in the same position as Negroes, if you think it would be justified or not to march and protest in demonstrations?
46% Justified
54% Not Justified
Subpopulation: Whites response
Harris Survey [October, 1966]
All in all, do you feel the demonstrations by Negroes on civil rights have helped more or hurt more in the advancement of Negro rights?
85% Hurts Negro
15% Helps Negro
Subpopulation: Whites
Religion And Civil Rights [January, 1967]
Negroes would be better off if they would take advantage of the opportunities that have been made available rather than spending so much time protesting.
7% Definitely disagree
11% Probably disagree
30% Probably agree
53%Definitely agree