The author chronicled the stories of various figures overlooked in the Civil Rights Movement,[1] including many senior citizens involved.

[2] Payne has a focus on events rooted in particular communities and argued that the movement was based in each location rather than being primarily nationwide, and he stated that in Mississippi the movement originated from a form of community organizing developed in the state and not primarily from black churches.

[5] Robert J. Norrell stated that compared to Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi, this book is "more expansive" and "less comprehensive and chronological".

[5] Stewart Burns of Stanford University stated that the book is a "remarkable study", praising its "careful structure" and "vivid, engaging prose".

[6] Mary L. Dudziak of the University of Iowa described the book as "essential reading" in its field; she stated that the volume may be more difficult for an "uninitiated reader" in the subject to handle.