South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation
'South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation' by Imani Perry is a creative non-fiction work that blends the author's personal experiences, historical events, and reporting on the current cultural moment into a literary tour of the American South. Perry travels from Appalachia to the Gulf of Mexico, providing historical reflections on the experiences of black people in America and shedding light on the brutal reality of slavery. The book combines memoir, history, and cultural commentary to explore and explain the complexities of the American South, touching on topics like Jim Crow, segregation, and the diasporic experience.
Perry's writing style in 'South to America' has been described as exceptional, with linguistic dexterity that transforms the hearts and minds of readers. Her research and devotion to exposing the depth of the diasporic experience are evident, offering a powerful presentation that delves into the impact of Jim Crow on families and the attempts to sanitize American History. Despite some critiques about the personal focus of the narrative, Perry's insights into modern circumstances in the South and her historical reflections are seen as valuable contributions to understanding the region and its people.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes discussions of racism, slavery, and personal trauma which might be triggering for some readers.
From The Publisher:
WINNER OF THE 2022 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NONFICTION
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"An elegant meditation on the complexities of the American South-and thus of America-by an esteemed daughter of the South and one of the great intellectuals of our time. An inspiration." -Isabel Wilkerson
An essential, surprising journey through the history, rituals, and landscapes of the American South-and a revelatory argument for why you must understand the South in order to understand America
We all think we know the South. Even those who have never lived there can rattle off a list of signifiers: the Civil War, Gone with the Wind, the Ku Klux Klan, plantations, football, Jim Crow, slavery. But the idiosyncrasies, dispositions, and habits of the region are stranger and more complex than much of the country tends to acknowledge. In South to America, Imani Perry shows that the meaning of American is inextricably linked with the South, and that our understanding of its history and culture is the key to understanding the nation as a whole.
This is the story of a Black woman and native Alabaman returning to the region she has always called home and considering it with fresh eyes. Her journey is full of detours, deep dives, and surprising encounters with places and people. She renders Southerners from all walks of life with sensitivity and honesty, sharing her thoughts about a troubling history and the ritual humiliations and joys that characterize so much of Southern life.
Weaving together stories of immigrant communities, contemporary artists, exploitative opportunists, enslaved peoples, unsung heroes, her own ancestors, and her lived experiences, Imani Perry crafts a tapestry unlike any other. With uncommon insight and breathtaking clarity, South to America offers an assertion that if we want to build a more humane future for the United States, we must center our concern below the Mason-Dixon Line.
A Recommended Read from: The New Yorker
The New York Times
TIME
Oprah Daily
USA Today
Vulture
Essence
Esquire
W Magazine
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PopSugar
Book Riot
Chicago Review of Books
Electric Literature
Lit Hub
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