Grandpa explains his feelings to Harlin in the following way....
“What’s wrong? Hasn’t your daddy told you about the desegregation ruling by that rabble-rousing Supreme Court? Bet he’s been happier than a pig in mud about all that craziness. I tell you, son, mixing Negroes with our white students is going to ruin our schools and all America, but down here, we’re not going to allow it. Some good folks formed White Citizens’ Councils to keep things sensible in the Delta. Those damn Yankees think they can tell us how to run our lives, well, they better think again.” He looked real serious. “I tell you, son, around here, we’re not going to take this integration craziness lying down. Not us, not here, not ever.”
