Originally published on October 10, 2018 (Episode 81)
Introduction
How do we imagine the South—and how do those imaginings shape American politics and culture? Zachary J. Lechner argues that in the 1960s and 70s, Americans created competing images of the “White South.” Some saw it through the lens of Civil Rights struggle and backlash, while others framed it through the economic boom of a “New New South.” And that was just the start. In this conversation, we explore many of these imaginings and their cultural impact.
About the Guest
Zachary J. Lechner was at the time of the recording Assistant Professor of History at Virginia Peninsula Community College. He is now a Historic Preservation Officer in Tempe, Arizona. He is the author of The South of the Mind: American Imaginings of White Southernness, 1960–1980 (Georgia, 2018).
For Further Investigation
Zachary J. Lechner, The South of the Mind: American Imaginings of White Southernness, 1960–1980 (Georgia, 2018)
Listen & Discuss
How did Americans outside the South imagine it during the Civil Rights era?
What role did pop culture—movies, music, sports—play in shaping those images?
Share this episode with someone who still debates whether “the South” actually exists.
