Cypress Shade: A True Crime FBI Memoir

The Mississippi Delta, in the wake of the horrific hate crimes of the 1960s, was not a desirable post for a newly-married, naive, white FBI Agent from the north. Nevertheless, John W. Whiteside III was posted to the FBI's remote office in Greenville, Mississippi in 1972, and told to make the best of it.

In his second book, Cypress Shade, a true crime FBI memoir, Whiteside reflects on this tense period in US history that further shaped the Civil Rights Movement and forever changed his life.

From the culture shock he and his wife endured upon arriving, to the discrimination he felt as an unwanted, distrusted northerner and federal agent, his frank account shares what life in the Deep South was like from an outsider’s perspective. Forced to examine his personal thoughts on racial equality, Whiteside describes the inner transformation he experiences when it is his job to ensure justice, equality, and rights for blacks.

His unforgettable stories range from comical to troubling as Whiteside recalls the good and the bad of everyday life in the Delta, and his growing concern for the people and culture of the South.