Praying for Sheetrock

During his meetings on the county commission, Alston initially dresses in relatively flamboyant garbs, such as ruffled shirts and white satin nightclub outfits, which stand out among the straitlaced khakis and polo shirts of the white commissioners. Although Alston believes he is expressing his individuality as a black man through his clothing, the other commissioners see his outfits as garish. These clothes symbolize the mistrust and vast gulf of worldviews between Alston and the white commissioners. 

Sheriff Poppell informally employs spies among the black community, who will report back to Poppell on the activities and whereabouts of various individuals. To boost their egos, Poppell gives the spies badges reserved for sheriff’s deputies, even though the spies are not employees. Alston says, “The sheriff give them a badge. […] They really didn’t have no more authority than a piece of paper, but the sheriff give them some little jobs […] And those guys were ashamed of it, to show the badge, but within themselves they were proud of it” (81). The badges represent Poppell’s coercive hold over the black community and the aspiration to some semblance of power.