Driving Miss Daisy reminded me of the era in which I grew up. I knew one local rich man who had a black chauffeur who remained his friend for life. But the strangest sight around town (more prevalent than black chauffeurs) was wealthy white women who picked up their black maids and servants to go to work and take them home again. It was not socially acceptable in a segregated society for a black woman to ride beside a white woman. Therefore, the black lady would be seen sitting in the backseat of the Cadillac or Lincoln, driven around town by her white employer. I thought it was hilarious and illustrated some of the absurdities imposed by segregation.
He would not be the first person from Mississippi I've met who had nice things to say. It pretty strange to meet old black people who aren't angry but meet young black folks so angry (over what).