In the News, Spring 2023
“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.
“Tennessee House speaker considers rejecting federal money” from PBS NewsHour (February 8, 2023)
“‘Basically, we’ll be able to educate the kids how Tennessee sees fit,’ [House speaker Cameron] Sexton said, pointing out that rejecting the money would mean that Tennessee would no longer have ‘federal government interference.’”
“The Myths that Kill Our Dreamers” from the South Seattle Emerald (February 10, 2023)
“What haunted me most was the juxtaposition of two monuments outside the state capitol, with their contradictory histories and clashing narratives offering incompatible distillations of Black history.”
“Black Jackson Fathers Dispel Myths as State Auditor Focuses on ‘Fatherlessness’” from Mississippi Free Press (February 23, 2023)
“Jaimar Scott started volunteering six years ago at Obama Magnet Elementary School ‘to dispel that rumor or that myth that the man works (and) the woman takes care of the kids as far as homework, education.’ He said he began opening the door for students in the morning and reading in classes.”
“Despite politics, SC sharing in record growth of America’s offshore wind market” from The Post and Courier (February 26, 2023)
“In January, The Post and Courier reported on the recent spread of misinformation about a link between wind power exploration activities in the Mid-Atlantic and recent whale deaths. Scientists agree there is no evidence to support these claims. But there are credible concerns that scientists have about the industry’s future impact, including the unknown effects of turbines on the migration and foraging of endangered North Atlantic right whales.”
“Alabama landfill fire reveals gaps in waste regulation” from NPR (March 12, 2023)
“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.”
“Amid teacher shortages, Mississippi embraces a movement to grow their own from NPR (March 22, 2023)
“To address chronic teacher shortages, school districts across the country are creating residency programs to better recruit and train new teachers. One program in Jackson, Miss., is already paying off.”
“Both Black Tennessee lawmakers have been reinstated after being expelled by the GOP” from NPR (April 12, 2023)
“Pearson’s reinstatement is the latest twist in a political battle that ignited accusations of racism and toxic partisanship: Republican House members, largely white and male, employed a disciplinary tool little used since the 1800s to expel Pearson and another Black Democrat, Rep. Justin Jones, while sparing Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white.”
“Alabama education director ousted over book’s stance on race” from AP News (April 21, 2023)
“‘The education of Alabama’s children is my top priority as governor, and there is absolutely no room to distract or take away from this mission. Let me be crystal clear: Woke concepts that have zero to do with a proper education and that are divisive at the core have no place in Alabama classrooms at any age level, let alone with our youngest learners,’ Ivey said in a statement.”
Originally published at http://modernsouthernfolklore.com on May 18, 2023.
