“In The News” is published quarterly and provides a sampling of stories, articles, or reviews that reference or relate to beliefs, myths, and narratives in Southern culture since 1970.

“Rethinking Robert E. Lee,”  a review of Robert E. Lee and Me by Ty Seidule, from Triad: City Beat (October 20, 2021)

“A retired brigadier general and former head of the history department at West Point, the author eventually stopped believing what he had been taught about the Civil War and its legacy. He wants you to stop believing it too.”

“Black Americans in the South more likely to go Black congregation than those elsewhere,” from The Pew Research Center (October 21, 2021)

“For example, Black Southerners are more likely than Black Americans living elsewhere to be part of a Black congregation (where all or most attendees and clergy are Black). In the Southern U.S., roughly two-thirds of Black adults who attend religious services at least a few times a year (65%) say they worship at a Black congregation. That’s slightly higher than the share of Black adults in the Midwest (60%) who say they go to a Black congregation, and much higher than the shares in the Northeast (52%) and West (38%) who say this.”

“Adam Harris on the inequalities baked into America’s education system,” from Reckon South (October 25, 2021)

“And, you know, I think at this current moment, that stratification is where you see a lot of that discrimination sort of rearing its head and those vestiges of discrimination rearing their head. It doesn’t just apply to those Southern states. ”

“Myths, fantasies and spooky lore” in the Mt. Airy News (October 25, 2021)

“Scientists believe that people have superstitious beliefs because they want to feel like they have some influence over forces outside of their control, especially supernatural forces that could cause them harm. In the South, this is especially true because of the area’s roots in farming as a way of life. ”

“Alabama says vaccine mandate will lead state employees to quit,” from WBHM (November 1, 2021)

“When an employee requests a religious exemption, [Attorney General Steve] Marshall said state agencies should not ‘inquire into the validity of an employee’s religious beliefs, including the motives or reasons for holding the belief.’ That deviates from federal guidance where federal employees are asked to participate in an interactive process and bring documentation supporting the request for an exemption.”