“In The News” is published quarterly and provides a sampling of stories, articles, or reviews that reference or relate to beliefs, myths, and narratives in Southern culture since 1970.
“Georgia Senate Candidate Herschel Walker Suggests Evolution Isn’t Real Because Apes Still Exist,” from BET (March 16, 2022)
“In the video clip below, Walker expresses his belief in the literal creation of life found in the Bible while denouncing the theory of evolution–which he got wrong.”
“It’s unclear if the former college and professional football star misunderstands the theory of evolution or if he intentionally got it wrong to connect with potential voters in the congregation.”
“The Complex Legacy of an Anti-Black Restaurant Slated for Demolition,” from Smithsonian Magazine (March 11, 2022)
“In other words, the link between ‘good Southern food’ and racism wasn’t incidental. Indeed, the long-running celebration of Southern food by white media outlets is as mixed up with ‘the warped myth of Mammy,’ as [historian Micki] McElya puts it, as any iconic dish.”
“Breaking Out the New Mid-South as a Place and Culture of Its Own,” from Governing (March 16, 2022)
“Trying to reconceptualize is not necessarily a fit for every place, but for those areas whose existing regional definitions and narratives don’t fairly capture their assets or essence, it’s a strategy to look at. There’s no reason to accept regional definitions as unchangeable givens.”
“Alabama Is Trying to Raise the Legal Driving Age for Trans People to 19,” from The Daily Beast (March 21, 2022)
“The conjunction of Alabama’s efforts to limit trans youth health care and prevent trans people from correcting their IDs may have unintended consequences, according to LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. In tandem, these regulations would make it effectively impossible for trans drivers under the age of 19 to get their license.”
“Gov. Reeves Declares April Confederate Heritage Month and Genocide Awareness Month” from Mississippi Free Press (April 11, 2022)
“Mississippi State students walk past the bust of Stephen Dill Lee daily without knowing the extent of his efforts at instilling white supremacy and “lost cause” mythology into Mississippi long past the Civil War. He sits in front of recently renovated Lee Hall, right off Lee Boulevard.”
