Great Courage

The First Black Sheriff Elected in the South Since Reconstruction

This book is dedicated to the memory of Lucius D. Amerson, the first black sheriff elected in the south since reconstruction. His story recounts the suffering of poor and unfortunate african americans in the south by unjust white law enforcement officials. From his twenty years experience as the First Black Sheriff Elected in the South Since Reconstruction, he accurately tell a concise story of what really happened in Macon County, Alabama from 1967 til 1987. Most African Americans in the south, particularly prior to 1967, can recall negative or potentially life-threathing experiences that they or family members had with white law enforcement officers which caused many to forgo stopping for food or using gas stations restrooms while traveling in the southern parts of the United States. White law enforcement officers in the south often mistreated, abused, and arrested African Americans for minor to major infractions or not infractions at all. Many African Americans became painfully aware of what was considered a "dog and rabbit society," where and African American person could be shot, punished, or lynched for almost anything, including not saying "yes sir" to a white person. Over the years, this created a lot of mistrust. I want to acknowledge, with great gratitude, remarks and comments shared by older citizens of the area who had personal encounters with law enforcement abuse. I further acknowledge and than the many people throughout the country who wrote kind letters of encouragement and sent newspaper clippings from their local papers. I have included some of their letters in this book. August 1993 (LDA)