South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation
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- Create Date：2022-01-26 17:21:07
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Imani Perry
- ISBN：B08HLZZ4DL
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Summary
“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。
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。
Reviews
Lloyd Fassett
，
1/25/21 Found it through a GoodReads email pushed to me。 Mostly though， if Issabelle Wilkerson says it's a good book for understanding the South， then I believe it。 I've believed in the book's premise for decades anyway because South Gothic， like Carson McCullers， Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner， plus Truman Capote all point to a way， an air， a mythos。。。a something about the South as America。In South to America， Imani Perry shows that the meaning of American is inextricably linked with th 1/25/21 Found it through a GoodReads email pushed to me。 Mostly though， if Issabelle Wilkerson says it's a good book for understanding the South， then I believe it。 I've believed in the book's premise for decades anyway because South Gothic， like Carson McCullers， Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner， plus Truman Capote all point to a way， an air， a mythos。。。a something about the South as America。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。Isabel Wilkerson （New York Times bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents） praises the book， calling it “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。”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。 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 。。。more
Alyssa
，
Thank you to the publisher Ecco for providing an e-ARC via NetGalley for an honest review。As an American that couldn’t have grown up further from the South and yet has lived here for the last two years， the premise of Imani Perry's South to America had me immediately intrigued。 I was fascinated with the idea of an actual Southerner’s take on the interpretation of the complex， often misunderstood idea of the South as a monolith。 Perry takes the reader on a journey with her from Appalachia all the Thank you to the publisher Ecco for providing an e-ARC via NetGalley for an honest review。As an American that couldn’t have grown up further from the South and yet has lived here for the last two years， the premise of Imani Perry's South to America had me immediately intrigued。 I was fascinated with the idea of an actual Southerner’s take on the interpretation of the complex， often misunderstood idea of the South as a monolith。 Perry takes the reader on a journey with her from Appalachia all the way down to Cuba， exploring not only the current culture of this region - but the years of conflict and struggle against impossible odds of those who can trace their ancestry back to the darkest times of Antebellum America。 A fair warning - this book is dense。 It’s not the easy， breezy narrative nonfiction found in the more approachable versions of this genre。 But then， the subject matter explored here and how the centuries of trauma have shaped the modern landscape of the South doesn’t necessarily lend itself to this type of writing。 Perry is a PhD scholar and academic， and her masterful use of language was remarkable - if not the most digestible way to take in the information and insights she shared in her journey。 This novel is incredibly well researched， even beyond the author’s own personal anecdotes she shares in her travels to various cities across the South。 It truly is a deep dive into the history of this region in America。 As such， it does sometimes get a little clouded in its presentation of names， dates， and the underlying message of each chapter。 My one hang-up with this structure was how I sometimes struggled as the reader to connect the many facts and figures Perry provided with whatever leg of her journey she was on。 Perhaps this transition could have been made a little smoother， or perhaps this was just a function of my own lack of familiarity with the places and events she discussed。 But I do admit this sometimes made the non-linear narrative a bit difficult to follow with her overall thesis。 In the end， South to America is a heartfelt and meticulous exploration of the history of the American South。 Anyone looking to learn a little more about this region is bound to come away from this book with a better understanding of not only the people， places， and events that shaped the current cultural landscape here - but also understand how one woman was able to come to a reckoning on her own personal history and connection to her ancestors。 。。。more
Rebecca Brenner Graham
，
South to America by Imani Perry offers narrative nonfiction of the Southern U。S。 centering Black perspectives。 Perry’s fusion of research with personal insights is in the style of Clint Smith’s How the Word is Passed or Michael Twitty’s Cooking Gene， which are both well-deserved best-sellers。 But Perry’s targets are even more specific。 makes clear that while racism is definitely not specific to the South， race has had a particular way of manifesting in American Southern history。 she points out t South to America by Imani Perry offers narrative nonfiction of the Southern U。S。 centering Black perspectives。 Perry’s fusion of research with personal insights is in the style of Clint Smith’s How the Word is Passed or Michael Twitty’s Cooking Gene， which are both well-deserved best-sellers。 But Perry’s targets are even more specific。 makes clear that while racism is definitely not specific to the South， race has had a particular way of manifesting in American Southern history。 she points out that Tony Horowitz’s Confederates in the Attic was more intrigued by Confederates than the plight of actual Black people。 Readers gain a wide range of insights and nuances from Perry’s South to America。 。。。more
Yahya
，
good boo to read。。Read A Nice Book Online good boo to read。。Read A Nice Book Online 。。。more
Shana Scudder
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My review of this book will appear in West Trade Review later this month！
David V。
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Received as an ARC via my employer Barnes & Noble。 Started 12-31-21; finished 1-7-22。 Each chapter is about a different Southern state。 Basically I learned that this country still has a long， long way to go to remove racism from its daily life， and White citizens aren't even aware of much of it。 This book attempts to educate us。 Read this book with an open mind and you'll be a better person when you're done。 Received as an ARC via my employer Barnes & Noble。 Started 12-31-21; finished 1-7-22。 Each chapter is about a different Southern state。 Basically I learned that this country still has a long， long way to go to remove racism from its daily life， and White citizens aren't even aware of much of it。 This book attempts to educate us。 Read this book with an open mind and you'll be a better person when you're done。 。。。more
Janilyn Kocher
，
An interesting read。 The author highlights southern states and cities， based on her interpretations and experiences。 I enjoyed her family tidbits。 I didn’t always agree with her explanations or extrapolations。 It’s a unique look at the south。 Thanks to Ecco， Edelweiss， and NetGalley for the early copy。
Nuha
，
Thank you to Ecco and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy！ Available Jan 2022 Sometimes a book wanders into your life at the perfect moment。 This is one of those serendipitous occasions， where I just finished teaching Protest Literature in an English course at Louisiana State University。 Told in beautiful prose， Imani Perry's South to America takes us to the heartland of the American South。 Intertwining personal， political， and social histories， Perry takes on a journey through the Southern Thank you to Ecco and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy！ Available Jan 2022 Sometimes a book wanders into your life at the perfect moment。 This is one of those serendipitous occasions， where I just finished teaching Protest Literature in an English course at Louisiana State University。 Told in beautiful prose， Imani Perry's South to America takes us to the heartland of the American South。 Intertwining personal， political， and social histories， Perry takes on a journey through the Southern States。 Elegant and emotional， the narrative commands our respect。 South to America asks us to consider how the South is both a place of love and anguish， history and future and leads us to a deeper understanding of it means， truly， to be a Southerner。 。。。more
Stephanie Carlson
，
[This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review]4。5 starsPart travelogue， part memoir， part history， part soul: this collection of essays meditating upon the American South kept me equally engaged throughout every section。 Imani Perry not only travels the Southern United States （and some places beyond） to impart their history， but interrogates the meaning of “Southern” and “southernness” as applied to these areas。 This book is an exploration， [This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review]4。5 starsPart travelogue， part memoir， part history， part soul: this collection of essays meditating upon the American South kept me equally engaged throughout every section。 Imani Perry not only travels the Southern United States （and some places beyond） to impart their history， but interrogates the meaning of “Southern” and “southernness” as applied to these areas。 This book is an exploration， a search for meaning and connection， rather than a treatise in which the author explains a predetermined fact。 This book would make an excellent gift for any self-proclaimed Southerner， dubious border-stater， or smug Northerner。 It is also well worth picking up merely to enjoy Perry’s beautifully constructed prose。The South is， fundamentally， America。 And America is only America because of the South。 Dismissing the region is folly indeed。 。。。more
Bethany
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There is no way for me to do justice to this book in a review。 It was poignant and pointed， gracious and honest。 Perry calls for a reckoning with the traumatic parts of the South and its history while regaling the reader with what remains excellent and specific to the South。 It is a love letter to a tragically - and perhaps fatally - flawed place that calls for examination and change。 Highly recommended。*I received an electronic ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest revi There is no way for me to do justice to this book in a review。 It was poignant and pointed， gracious and honest。 Perry calls for a reckoning with the traumatic parts of the South and its history while regaling the reader with what remains excellent and specific to the South。 It is a love letter to a tragically - and perhaps fatally - flawed place that calls for examination and change。 Highly recommended。*I received an electronic ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review。* 。。。more
Nina
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The language in this book is mesmerizing。 The author uses descriptions of Southern cities to describe what life has been like and continues to be like for some。 She perceives and describes so much that goes on below the surface of daily life。 The book defies categorization。 The writing is beautiful。 I only wish each chapter could have been longer。
Kat
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It's hard for me to give this book a star rating， partly because it's difficult to classify， so I'm not sure how to evaluate it。 The narrative is personal and specific， while at the same time making broad statements about "we" Americans and conjecturing about the thoughts and feelings of others。 While Perry is an astute observer and a deep thinker， this book was not for me。 It's quite meandering and nonlinear; it also assumes the reader learned about or remembers the historic events mentioned。 I It's hard for me to give this book a star rating， partly because it's difficult to classify， so I'm not sure how to evaluate it。 The narrative is personal and specific， while at the same time making broad statements about "we" Americans and conjecturing about the thoughts and feelings of others。 While Perry is an astute observer and a deep thinker， this book was not for me。 It's quite meandering and nonlinear; it also assumes the reader learned about or remembers the historic events mentioned。 I would have liked more description of the places， a bit more review or context in the historical events she describes， and less of the philosophical musings on broad swaths of people。 I was expecting more of a persuasive stance backed by research in addition to personal experience， whereas Perry is doing more observing and meditating， which brings the essays close to poetry， but not close enough for me to read them as such。 I wasn't familiar with Perry's work before this; if I had been， I probably would have had different expectations。 I heard her speak on a panel about this book and found her ideas and comments very interesting， yet the book feels a bit advanced and academic for a general audience。 。。。more
Whitney
，
Thank you so much to the Publisher for a chance to read and review this ARC prior to its publication date。 "When it comes to the choreography， most folks are lost。 They think they know the South's moves。 They believe the region is out of step， off-rhythm， lagging behind， stumbling。 It is a convenient misunderstanding。 This country was made with the shame of slavery， poverty， and White supremacy blazoned across it as a badge of dishonor。 To sustain a heroic self-concept， it has inevitably been de Thank you so much to the Publisher for a chance to read and review this ARC prior to its publication date。 "When it comes to the choreography， most folks are lost。 They think they know the South's moves。 They believe the region is out of step， off-rhythm， lagging behind， stumbling。 It is a convenient misunderstanding。 This country was made with the shame of slavery， poverty， and White supremacy blazoned across it as a badge of dishonor。 To sustain a heroic self-concept， it has inevitably been deemed necessary to to distance 'America' from the embarrassment over this truth。 And so the South， the seat of race in the United States， was turned on， out and into the country's gully。""South to America" by Dr。 Imani Perry is a collection of linked essays exploring the American South: its mythos， its history， and its present as an amalgam of sins that plague America as a whole。 This book acts as a shield against notions that the American South isn't "really" America - that the racial tensions， regressive politics and historical embarrassments that are frequently brought up when discussing it are indicative of America， the troubled nation， as opposed to something occurring in a Southern vacuum。 Dr。 Perry goes region by region， state by state in what is generally agreed to be the "South"， discussing interesting quirks， notorious residents， and horrifying history。 Some essays are rooted in retelling events; others are more personal ruminations about the area in question。 Born in Alabama， but raised in the North， Dr。 Perry shines a light against dismissing the South as some strange， wayward cousin to American ideals。 I found myself pumping a fist and nodding in agreement to many of her arguments and recollections。 This wasn't an easy read， but a vital one。 。。。more
Oscreads
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This book is filled with ideas that have the power to shake America。 Every chapter/section is filled。 I especially loved the way Dr。 Imani Perry expanded their research and journey throughout the South， historically and physically， by looking beyond what American considers as the South。 This is a book that is always moving。 And I loved that。 In their newest book， Dr。 Perry opens up the South for her readers and reveals extraordinary things that will definitely keep you on your toes。 This book of This book is filled with ideas that have the power to shake America。 Every chapter/section is filled。 I especially loved the way Dr。 Imani Perry expanded their research and journey throughout the South， historically and physically， by looking beyond what American considers as the South。 This is a book that is always moving。 And I loved that。 In their newest book， Dr。 Perry opens up the South for her readers and reveals extraordinary things that will definitely keep you on your toes。 This book offers a perspective that I was super captivated by。 Side note: I loved what Dr。 Perry did with the prose。 There were instances where I felt the South enter her writing and I feel like that this did wonders for this history and Dr。 Perry’s arguments。 This is one to look out for。 。。。more
Amethyst
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Dr。 Imani Perry is the best professor I never had。 Everything I have read of hers challenges and inspires me to think about history and liberation in new ways。 She tweeted （October 2021）， “Ancestors， integrity， study， love <— my guides”。 This could not be more evident in South to America。 It is a breathtaking exploration and rethinking of the American South and the Global South。This book moves between being geographical （“Is DC the South？”） and thematic （tracing the Black Power movement to the S Dr。 Imani Perry is the best professor I never had。 Everything I have read of hers challenges and inspires me to think about history and liberation in new ways。 She tweeted （October 2021）， “Ancestors， integrity， study， love <— my guides”。 This could not be more evident in South to America。 It is a breathtaking exploration and rethinking of the American South and the Global South。This book moves between being geographical （“Is DC the South？”） and thematic （tracing the Black Power movement to the South）。 She references writers， artists， and activists of previous generations as well as her own family history and personal experiences while traveling。 Her journey below the Mason-Dixon highlights the contradictions and complexities of the South and how they are central to the identity of America itself – including the cruelty toward Black， Indigenous， and immigrant people。I love the ways she expands on Faulkner’s assertion that the past isn’t even past， that “we live in it as a changing same。” She connects current events to colonialism and/or the origins of America。 Despite detailing the deeply rooted violence of the South， this is ultimately a hopeful book。 One of the passages from the book that will stay with me is one of the last in the book， “If America is to be salvific， it can only be so because underneath our skyscrapers lie the people who have tasted the red clay， the loamy soil。 Lashed， hidden， running， captured。 Crucified for gain， bloodying the soil。 If their dreams can become “we” dreams， hope will spring。”Thank you to HarperColins Publishers， NetGalley， and Dr。 Imani Perry for the great opportunity to review South to America before it’s release in January 2022。 Dr。 Perry is one of my favorite authors， and it was an honor to read this advance reader’s copy。 。。。more
Brandon Westlake
，
This is a good book if you are looking for a personal reflection about race and social/cultural history。 It puts a lot of America's current debates about race into historical context。 This is a good book if you are looking for a personal reflection about race and social/cultural history。 It puts a lot of America's current debates about race into historical context。 。。。more
Jennifer Schultz
，