Racist rednecks fly into a rage after an African American lawman is elected to replace the white sheriff of a backwater Southern town. Despite the expected uproar, the new sheriff, with the support of the mayor, manages to keep the peace until he arrests a young white from a nearby town for running over a child with his car. The arrest leads the incarcerated boy's father to lead a revolt and stage a break out. This in turn causes the townsfolk to rally behind their sheriff and fight back.