''Sons of Mississippi'' is a book by Paul Hendrickson about sheriffs in Mississippi. The book's starting point is a photograph by Charles Moore (photographer), Charles Moore of seven sheriffs assembled in Oxford, Mississippi.
The photo was taken three days before James Meredith would enroll at University of Mississippi as its first African-American student; the sheriffs had come from different places in Mississippi to protest the enrollment.
[ It was published in Life magazine in 1962 and headlined "Local Lawmen, Getting Ready to Block the Law".][
Most of the sheriffs assembled had left Oxford by the time Ole Miss riot of 1962, violence broke out on September 29–30. However, to Hendrickson, they represent an important cross-section of the forces of segregation.][
Hendrickson spent seven years researching the book, with fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Guggenheim Foundation. He interviewed the two sheriffs who were still alive, as well as children, grandchildren, friends, enemies, and associates. Hendrickson also spoke to James Meredith and his son, Joseph Meredith.][Elizabeth Bennett,]
'Sons of Mississippi: A Story of Race and Its Legacy,' by Paul Hendrickson; Photo is a window into roots of racism, change in the South
; ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', 13 April 2003.
The book pays special attention to the Ferrell family, headed by Sheriff Billy T. Ferrell, who is situated in the center of the Moore photograph and is swinging a billy club.[Wen Stephenson,]
"; ''Washington Monthly'', April 2003.
The Moore photograph depicts seven sheriffs, who in the photo, are situated from left to right as follows:
* Sheriff John Henry Spencer of Pittsboro, Mississippi, Pittsboro, Calhoun County, Mississippi, Calhoun County
* Sheriff James Ira Grimsley of Pascagoula, Mississippi, Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi, Jackson County
* Sheriff Bob Waller of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Lamar County, Mississippi, Lamar County
* Sheriff Billy Ferrell of Natchez, Mississippi, Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi, Adams County (swinging)
* Sheriff Jimmy Middleton of Port Gibson, Mississippi, Port Gibson, Claiborne County, Mississippi, Claiborne County (further from camera)
* Deputy Sheriff James Wesley Garrison of Oxford, Mississippi, Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, Lafayette County
* Sheriff John Ed Cothran of Greenwood, Mississippi, Greenwood, Leflore County
The Moore photograph also shows the back of a state trooper's head, close to the camera on the left, and it appears blurry and large.[''Sons of Mississippi'', p. 136.]
References
Mississippi culture
History books about the United States
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