Hello All, I've been watching a bunch of movies (most recently "The Magnificent Seven") which features a black bounty hunter of sorts. In the movie he says that he has several state sanctions to capture or kill fugitives.

I know it's Hollywood and they want to have nice, diverse casts when possible, but is there even one case which comes close to this in history? Can someone explain the limitations put on freed men (I know the fugitive slave act was a big one until abolished)? Were they ever put into positions of power over whites?

I find it nearly impossible to believe, but also know that history is far more complicated than any simple, clean narratives would have us believe. Also one can imagine that in lawless parts of the West , so long as you can stay alive , you can be whatever you want and as Mao famously (and imo falsely) stated "power comes from the barrel of a gun"

I am sorry that this question is very broad and hope that it fits within the Subs rules but really any insight into the matter would be extremely helpful. Thank you