The author makes use of the 1962 Life photo which depicts several sheriffs from around Mississippi at the Ole Miss campus. This was the time when James Meredith was attempting to register and integrate the school.

He conducts in-depth research on each individual in the photo and the inheritance of hate that they passed on to their children and grandchildren. Moreover, he also delves into the background of the photographer and James Meredith's family.

This exploration provides a fascinating and thought-provoking read. It offers a unique perspective on a significant moment in history, shedding light on the complex web of relationships and the long-lasting impact of hate and discrimination.

By examining these various aspects, the author presents a comprehensive and engaging narrative that invites readers to reflect on the past and consider its implications for the present and future.

I have never written a book. However, if given the opportunity to choose a book that I wish I had authored instead of the actual writer, this would be the one without a doubt.

It contains everything in history that I have always been deeply passionate about. The beautiful Mississippi, the unique South with its rich culture and complex history, and all the significant events and struggles related to Civil Rights.

These are the elements that have always intrigued me and made me eager to learn more. This book seems to capture the essence of all these aspects perfectly, presenting them in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

If I could have written this book, I would have been able to share my own perspectives and interpretations of these important historical topics, perhaps inspiring others to explore and understand them more deeply as well.

On judgement day, all the slain bodies from all the fevered and silted Mississippi waters will rise as one.

I read this for a college course on Mississippi literature.

Many sections of this book are truly intriguing. In particular, the account involving James Meredith, his sons, and the descendants of the men in the cover's photograph is captivating. There are few things as convoluted and distressing as the cognitive dissonance present within white Southern communities. The way so many of these younger white men would say something that gives the reader a glimmer of hope that the arc of the moral universe indeed bends toward justice, only to suddenly revoke that hope with a slur or some other racially aggressive slip-up that reveals the harsh truth.

This book clearly reads like a pre-Trump era work (because it is), and it is of great importance for current readers to bear this fact in mind. My class and I were tempted to claim that we had known about so much of this racism-related material all along. However, the truth is that a significant portion of white America was (and still is) ignorant of the truths presented in this book. On another level, this book can be challenging to read when so much of our current conversations center around voice and who gets their voices shared. Much of Hendrickson's book is about racist people expressing racist views with varying degrees of regret or self-consciousness. I spent a great deal of my reading time pondering what the value was in reading about racists when I could instead read something more enlightening by a black author.

Structural elements that I would have modified in Sons of Mississippi are its length and its pull-quality. I was only required to read specific chapters of the book for my class, but I ended up finishing it simply because I had invested money in it. If it had been shorter, more concise, and written in a more engaging and absorptive manner, I would have been able to get through it more quickly and remember more details about the specific individuals interviewed, rather than just those who seemed the most fascinating, such as Ty Ferrel or Joe Meredith.

Hendrickson conducted an astounding amount of research for Sons of Mississippi. It is truly an admirable achievement.

I have truly learned an abundance from this book. It has provided me with a wealth of knowledge about a particular era in Mississippi that I was previously unaware of. The content is truly fascinating and has opened my eyes to a whole new world. If it weren't for the somewhat confusing organization of the book, I would毫不犹豫地 give it a 5-star rating for its content alone. However, the lack of clear structure and flow sometimes made it difficult to fully grasp and follow the information presented. Despite this drawback, I still believe that the book has a lot to offer and I would recommend it to others who are interested in learning about this era in Mississippi.

At times, this work offers a truly vivid look into the world of the South and the complex issue of civil rights.

It delves deep into the social, cultural, and political fabric of that era, painting a detailed picture that allows readers to better understand the struggles and challenges faced by the people.

However, one drawback is that too often, the author projects himself into the story. This can be a bit distracting and may prevent the reader from fully immersing themselves in the narrative.

As a result, I didn't rate it higher. Despite this flaw, the book still contains valuable insights and is worth reading for those interested in learning more about the South and civil rights.

Perhaps with a bit more detachment from the author, it could have been an even more powerful and engaging work.

I am not a huge fan of nonfiction. However, this particular book was a great one to read.

It focuses on the civil rights, yet presents it from a distinct perspective.

I really liked it mainly because it delved into the lives of the children and grandchildren of the men who were actively involved in the civil rights movement.

This unique approach added a new dimension to the story, allowing the readers to understand the long-term impact and the continuation of the struggle through the eyes of the younger generations.

It was interesting to see how the experiences and values of the previous generation were passed down and how the younger ones were shaping their own paths in the context of the civil rights legacy.

The book provided a fresh and engaging look at a topic that is of great significance in American history.

Overall, it was a worthwhile read that broadened my understanding of the civil rights movement.

In 1962, a group of Mississippi sheriffs were photographed as they talked and waited on the Ole Miss campus. The picture, which appeared in Life magazine, was a random sort of shot chronicling the build-up to the riot that took place a few days later. At that time, James Meredith, the first Black student in history, began his studies.

The sheriffs were there to protect the campus from the federal troops who'd been sent to guarantee Meredith's safety.

Paul Hendrickson, looking at this picture many years later, decided to find out just who these men were. He wanted to know what their lives were like, how they were regarded in their own communities, and what might have inspired them to stand up against integration in such a public way.

Drawn from hundreds of interviews and thorough research, the first part of Hendrickson's book tells the stories of these men. It notes that more than one had been involved with the investigation into the death of Emmett Till just a few years earlier. Interestingly, all of them were beloved by those around them.

The next part of the book delves into the life of James Meredith. He was the lone Black man who came to Ole Miss, went to class, wrote his papers, and graduated. This part gives insight into what inspired him and what he did after this period of time. By the way, he was a lifelong Republican who worked for Jesse Helms and with David Duke.

The last part of the book focuses on the legacies bestowed by these men. It examines how their lives, attitudes, and actions affected their sons and grandsons.

For many years, racism was at the core of Mississippi society, defining not only opportunity but also identity. This book explores its omniscience, helping to explain a state that still ranks well below other states in its citizens' education and opportunity. Despite this, Mississippi is a state so glisteningly beautiful that most who leave long to return, even now.