Synopses & Reviews
This volume of
The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture offers a timely, authoritative, and interdisciplinary exploration of issues related to social class in the South from the colonial era to the present. With introductory essays by J. Wayne Flynt and by editors Larry J. Griffin and Peggy G. Hargis, the volume is a comprehensive, stand-alone reference to this complex subject, which underpins the history of the region and shapes its future.
In 58 thematic essays and 103 topical entries, the contributors explore the effects of class on all aspects of life in the South—its role in Indian removal, the Civil War, the New Deal, and the civil rights movement, for example, and how it manifested in religion, sports, country and gospel music, and matters of gender. Artisans and the working class, indentured workers and steelworkers, the Freedman's Bureau and the Knights of Labor are all examined. This volume provides a full investigation of social class in the region and situates class concerns at the center of our understanding of Southern culture.
Review
"[This book] proves itself both an indispensable tool for academics researching the material culture or semiotics of the South and a singular addition to the encyclopedia."
-The Southern Register
About the Author
Larry J. Griffin is the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Research Professor at Georgia Southern University. He holds appointments in the sociology and history departments and directs the university's American studies program. Peggy Hargis is professor of sociology at Georgia Southern University.