Captivating Saga Explores 1960s Mississippi Newspaper Influence

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The novel 'The Agitators: A Reminiscence' by John Mark Pitner tells the story of three teenagers - Shadrach, Matthew, and Penny - navigating racial divisions in their small Mississippi town in 1968, as the local newspaper publisher, Matthew's father Sam, unwittingly inflames tensions through biased reporting. As the town prepares for a Hollywood film shoot, long-simmering conflicts boil over.

Why it matters

The novel explores how local media, even before the rise of social media, could shape public opinion and drive consequential change in small communities. It serves as a cautionary tale about the power of the press and the importance of responsible, unbiased journalism, especially when covering sensitive social and racial issues.

The details

The story is told through the eyes of the narrator, Shadrach Greenwood, who looks back on his teenage years in 1968 Carrollton, Mississippi. Shadrach, his friend Matthew, and Matthew's sister Penny navigate the racial divisions in their town as they hope for a ruling that will allow them to attend integrated schools. Meanwhile, Matthew's father Sam, the local newspaper publisher, unwittingly fuels the community's divisions through biased opinion pieces. When Sam convinces a Hollywood studio to use Carrollton as the location for a film based on a William Faulkner novel, tensions boil over as a violent group learns of the diverse cast coming to town.

• In 1968, Penny rides her pony to the town square and Matthew pleads with his parents for a motorcycle.
• Shadrach pushes back on adults enforcing racial norms, hoping a ruling on integration will allow him and his friends to attend school together.
• In an attempt to unite his town, Sam convinces a Hollywood studio to use Carrollton as the location for a movie based on William Faulkner's 'The Reivers: A Reminiscence.'