3 Review(s)

is is an account of Rod Nicholson, a naïve, young, African American professionalman born, raised, and educated in the Midwest who came to Mississippi by way ofChicago to begin his married life and start a family. is is his perspective of Southernculture, politics, and race relations from an outsider’s viewpoint. Eventually, RodNicholson and his family moved to the quaint little town of Terry, MS. Less thantwo years after arriving in Terry, Rod was encouraged to run for and won a seat onthe town’s Board of Aldermen. Four years later, Rod ran for Mayor becoming thetown’s rst African American Mayor. Mayor Rod Nicholson was re-elected to twoadditional four year terms in a town with roughly an even distribution of black andwhite residents.For a number of years, things appeared to go smoothly for this part-time Mayor. Beinga Civil Engineer by training, Mayor Rod had a skill set that enabled him to successfullysecure funding for a number of much needed infrastructure improvements for thistown that seemed to have a lot of potential but apparently had languished in neglectfor decades. And his e orts did seem to be appreciated by the rank-and- le residentsfrom all walks of life in this small town. However, not everyone was happy with thisnew Mayor and the bold changes that he championed. As time went by, it becameapparent that beneath the gentile façade of the townsfolk, there lie a more sinister sidewhere race permeated every facet of life in a closed society that apparently was eitherunable or unwilling to change. is is Mayor Roderick Nicholson’s real life accountof these experiences. Positive and negative. And in his own words.