It’s clearly plural, in form and meaning. That’s my point. If it were singular it’d be ‘datum’. It has a second-declension plural ending.
They’re referring to data as a single unified whole.
Family is singular despite being made of multiple members. Data is singular despite being composed of multiple data points.
Texas is a weird place. If you fit a certain mold in the rural parts people will bend over backwards to help you. Anyone outside of that will view you with suspicion however. Racism in the rural south is more based around cultural signifiers than skin color. A POC dressed nicely will be treated pretty normally, especially if they speak politely. The same person wearing a hoodie will be ostracized and viewed with suspicion.
Of course, as you go into cities people become more atomized and less willing to help. Without the southern hospitality, you just individualist racists. People in the rural areas have shitty opinions but sincerely care about community. They’re wrong about rural Texas but right about the cities I would say.