The focus of the story is on Bass Reeves, the first African-American federal marshal in the history of the United States. He was once a slave but later became a member of American law enforcement agencies, historically known as the first African-American deputy marshal west of the Mississippi River. He worked in Arkansas and the territory of Oklahoma. Throughout his long career, he made over 3000 arrests of dangerous criminals evading justice, 14 of whom he shot in self-defense. "Lawmen: Bass Reeves"