South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation by Imani Perry

Readalong

South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation

Hosted by annastasia_will
19 Jun 24 - 01 Aug 24
3 participants

About

It may be summer, but school is in session at The Bottom! Join us in the month of July in person for a special reading group hosted by Dr. Robert Bland. We'll be meeting weekly to read and discuss the book South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of A Nation by Imani Perry. Follow along with the reading here in StoryGraph!

Forums

Part I: Origin Stories (pg. 3-100)

Target: 07 Jul 2024

Guiding questions
  • Why does Perry ground her 'origin stories' in the upper South? 
  • What role does Appalachia play in her telling of southern history?
  • What books and scholars are guiding her intellectual journey?
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Part II: "The Solidified South" (pg. 101-252)

Target: 14 Jul 2024

Guiding questions:
  • What role does religion play in the "Solidified South" chapters?
  • How does she approach the stories of cities and places that are well known and well-trod sites of southern history?
  • What does she mean when she describes the "soul of the South"?
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Part III: "Water People" (pg. 253-374)

Target: 21 Jul 2024

Guiding Questions:
  • What do coastal cities that anchor this section have in common? What makes them different?
  • In what ways do the stories of oceans and waterways trouble the national boundaries of the American South?
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Conclusion and Broader Discussion (pg. 375-384)

Target: 28 Jul 2024

Guiding Questions
  • In what ways does Houston encapsulate some of the broader themes of Perry's story of the South?
  • In what ways is this book a product of our nation's recent history and current political climate?
  • What do you think Perry was seeking to achieve in writing this book?
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