Hilary Word tackles post-soul supernatural and futuristic worlds

Second M.A. student defends her thesis remotely Written By Rebecca Lauck Cleary Southern Studies master’s student Hilary Word has been considering the supernatural and futuristic worlds through the lens of literature for years. Word’s thesis “Post-Soul Speculation: An Exploration of Afro-Southern Speculative Fiction,” looks at the genre of fiction that encompasses works where the setting

Olivia Terenzio Provides Transnational Perspective on the Relationships between Food, Nation, and Racial Formation

Congratulations to the first remote thesis defender  Written by Rebecca Lauck Cleary Rice and beans are staple foods for many cultures around the world. The combination makes up a complete protein, and is delicious and nutritious. Olivia Terenzio became interested in the subject of rice and beans after spending a few months in Brazil in

Reflections from the Field: Discovering International Memphis

Written by Simone Delerme “When I want to feel better, I drive down Summer Avenue. There I can see the past, present and future diversity and humanity of Memphis.” 1 I discovered Summer Avenue—a commercial district in Memphis, Tennessee—while working on an oral history project in 2016. I was interviewing Latino restaurant owners, workers, and

Film about Gaspar Yanga now available online

In the mountains of Veracruz from 1570 to 1609, a young African-born Gaspar Yanga led resistance against the Spanish and forced recognition of his group’s freedom, self-governance, and rights to the land. In the film “Imagine Freedom: Sounding Yanga’s Cry across Gulf Shores” Dolores Flores-Silva and Keith Cartwright address the legacy of this Maroon community

Living Blues magazine turns 50!

Today, Living Blues #266 (April/May 2020) publishes their special 50th Anniversary issue, and the largest issue in nearly a decade. For this issue they revisit 21 of the past cover artists to see where life and the blues have led them. The artists featured include Bobby Rush, Irma Thomas, Jimmy Johnson, Robert Cray, Lil’ Ed

Connecting with Children’s Book Festival authors

Originally, the Oxford Conference for the Book Children’s Book Festival was planned for Friday, March 27 as an opportunity for first-graders to meet Oge Mora and fifth-graders to meet Cassie Beasley. Although because of COVID-19 they can’t meet the authors in person, there are ways for young readers to connect online. Mora, who graduated from

Southern Studies Remote Classes Begin

Written By Rebecca Lauck Cleary OXFORD, Miss. – This is a new era at the University of Mississippi and at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all university classes have shifted to online delivery for the remainder of the spring semester. Katie McKee, the center’s director, said