A Look at Racial Tensions in Waller County, Texas

Sandra Bland died in a town that has shaky a history.

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Sandra Bland's Death Has Put the Spotlight on Hempstead - Waller County, Texas, has become the center of the nation's attention since Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old African-American woman, was found dead in a jail cell. Her arrest and death has sparked national outcry for answers after police reported that Bland committed suicide. Read more for a history of racial tensions in Hempstead. (Photo: Courtesy of Bland family/AP)

A Quick History of Waller County - Waller County was first settled in the 1820s and was home to cotton plantations. After the Civil War, slavery ended, but race riots followed in the 1880s when white hate groups formed and used violence to stifle the participation of Blacks in politics in the county, later giving Waller the nickname "Six Shooter."   Recently, students at nearby HBCU Prairie View A&M complained about voter intimidation and voting rights. These claims resulted in a federal lawsuit and a settlement was reached by the district attorney in 2004. But more voting complaints followed as early as 2008. (Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

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A Quick History of Waller County - Waller County was first settled in the 1820s and was home to cotton plantations. After the Civil War, slavery ended, but race riots followed in the 1880s when white hate groups formed and used violence to stifle the participation of Blacks in politics in the county, later giving Waller the nickname "Six Shooter." Recently, students at nearby HBCU Prairie View A&M complained about voter intimidation and voting rights. These claims resulted in a federal lawsuit and a settlement was reached by the district attorney in 2004. But more voting complaints followed as early as 2008. (Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

A Call for Waller County Sheriff to Resign  - Some have called for Sheriff Glenn Smith to resign amid Bland's death. In 2007, Smith was suspended after pushing a Black man while arresting him and using profanity. He was later fired as Hempstead police chief for further police misconduct in 2008. "I'm not racist," he said, according to the Associated Press.  (Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

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A Call for Waller County Sheriff to Resign  - Some have called for Sheriff Glenn Smith to resign amid Bland's death. In 2007, Smith was suspended after pushing a Black man while arresting him and using profanity. He was later fired as Hempstead police chief for further police misconduct in 2008. "I'm not racist," he said, according to the Associated Press.  (Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

DA Elton Mathis Says New Generation Is "Progressive" - District Attorney Elton Mathis has previously spoken about how people "looking at some of the bad things in our past would jump to the conclusion that this was a murder and not a suicide." But he said that the "new generation in control" in Waller is more "progressive."(Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle via AP) 

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DA Elton Mathis Says New Generation Is "Progressive" - District Attorney Elton Mathis has previously spoken about how people "looking at some of the bad things in our past would jump to the conclusion that this was a murder and not a suicide." But he said that the "new generation in control" in Waller is more "progressive."(Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle via AP) 

Mayor Says Incident Doesn't Tell Full Story of Waller - Michael Wolfe grew up in Hempstead, Texas, and has been mayor since 2004. He doesn't believe the latest incident is a true representation of the relations in his hometown. "It's a sad thing," Michael Wolfe told the Associated Press. "It is not a true reflection of people who live here. It creates a level of animosity that may not be true. The community has changed tremendously," he continued, according to AP. (Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

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Mayor Says Incident Doesn't Tell Full Story of Waller - Michael Wolfe grew up in Hempstead, Texas, and has been mayor since 2004. He doesn't believe the latest incident is a true representation of the relations in his hometown. "It's a sad thing," Michael Wolfe told the Associated Press. "It is not a true reflection of people who live here. It creates a level of animosity that may not be true. The community has changed tremendously," he continued, according to AP. (Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

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Local Resident Weigh In on Town's Progress  - Sylvester Nunn, a Hempstead native, is not naive to the idea that an incident could take place in the town of Waller, but says he has not experienced anything like this before. "I've lived here my whole life," said Nunn to AP. "I know how it could happen, but nothing's happened to me. It's been all right with me." Nunn sells watermelons from his truck as Waller is famous for growing the popular crop. (Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

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Local Resident Weigh In on Town's Progress  - Sylvester Nunn, a Hempstead native, is not naive to the idea that an incident could take place in the town of Waller, but says he has not experienced anything like this before. "I've lived here my whole life," said Nunn to AP. "I know how it could happen, but nothing's happened to me. It's been all right with me." Nunn sells watermelons from his truck as Waller is famous for growing the popular crop. (Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

More Mixed Views From Residents - Resa Henderson, 48, another life-long resident and former nurse, has not experienced discrimination in the town. "I try to stay out of trouble," she said. Another resident by the name of Eugene Hood spoke straight about what he sees happening. "There's a lot of prejudice going on."   (Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

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More Mixed Views From Residents - Resa Henderson, 48, another life-long resident and former nurse, has not experienced discrimination in the town. "I try to stay out of trouble," she said. Another resident by the name of Eugene Hood spoke straight about what he sees happening. "There's a lot of prejudice going on."   (Photo: AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)