First Black Sheriff in Florida’s Deep South Since Reconstruction Releases New Book, “Striving for Justice”

Striving for Justice: A Black Sheriff in the Deep South is the story of Nat Glover, a Black man born into the segregated and profoundly underprivileged environment of Florida’s deep south in 1943. He transcended his oppressive circumstances to become the first Black sheriff in Jacksonville and the state of Florida in over 100 years, one of the nation’s most innovative and highly regarded law enforcement officials, and a champion of education, equal opportunity, and racial harmony.

This compelling and timely memoir recounts Glover’s history-making years in police reformation, his term as President of Florida’s oldest HBCU, Edward Waters University, his successful efforts to reach across racial, economic, and political divides, and what he believes will move this country forward toward hope and healing just as he once rose… against all odds.

A testament to the power of perseverance and the urgency of advocating for sustainable, systemic change, Striving for Justice is published in commemoration of Ax Handle Saturday, the notorious and bloody day in August 1960 when an ax-wielding mob of white supremacists attacked young Black protestors staging a non-violent sit-in at a whites-only lunch counter in downtown Jacksonville. 17-year-old Glover’s near-fatal encounter with that angry mob inspired his lifelong commitment to fight for justice.

Glover’s prescient community policing program drew the attention of former President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno who came to Jacksonville to walk the beat with him and see its effects first hand. He also gained national attention for his trailblazing ban on choke holds and de-escalation training for officers dealing with mentally challenged individuals. His innovative policies increased community trust and reduced crime in his jurisdiction by 17.2% over his eight-year term in office.

Clinton comments, “Nat Glover’s Striving for Justice is the engrossing story of a young Black man who rose from the then segregated city of Jacksonville, Florida, to become one of the nation’s most respected law enforcement professionals. I saw the impressive work Nat Glover did as an inspiring leader in his community, and his moving and important book is a powerful testament to one man’s commitment to justice, crossing racial divides, and making the world a better place.”

For more details about the book, visit StrivingForJusticeBook.com

About the Author
Nathaniel (Nat) Glover was born in 1943 in Jacksonville, Florida, during segregation. At seventeen, he unknowingly headed into an angry white mob, including members of the Ku Klux Klan, which was attacking young black protestors staging a sit-in at a downtown whites-only lunch counter. Known as “Ax Handle Saturday,” this harrowing encounter with racism would commit him to his life’s path of fighting for justice.

Glover joined the Jacksonville police department in 1966. After rising through the ranks and becoming detective sergeant, he was named Police Officer of the Year four times, each by four different organizations. Glover was then appointed the city’s first hostage negotiator. In 1995, Duval County voters elected him the first Black sheriff in Florida since 1888. He garnered national recognition for his department’s community policing, ban on choke holds, and de-escalation training for officers dealing with mentally challenged individuals. Then-President Bill Clinton and US Attorney General Janet Reno praised his initiatives during a walk-along with Glover on one of his typical neighborhood walks in Jacksonville.

In 2003, Glover ran for mayor of Jacksonville but lost to the Republican candidate, John Peyton. Despite a heated race, Peyton invited Glover to co-chair his transition team in honor of his reputation as a leader and his uncanny ability to reach across the aisle.

After completing his term as Sheriff, Glover proudly served as the twenty-ninth president of his alma mater, Edward Waters University. Edward Waters University’s stadium is named the Nathaniel Glover Community Field and Stadium in honor of his service, and he was twice nominated for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Male President of the Year award.

Glover has dedicated his life to serving his community and effectively leading meaningful law enforcement and scholastic initiatives in the city of Jacksonville, earning him the “Great Floridian” designation in 2016. He was inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement Officer’s Hall of Fame in 2021.

In conjunction with Florida State College at Jacksonville Foundation, Glover spearheads the drive to fund scholarships for need-based students through the “Where They Will Shine Scholarship Fund.” One hundred percent of the proceeds from his book, Striving for Justice, will be donated to that fund.