John Shelton Reed
November 2
"Anyone who writes on the South these days almost has to start with
the work of John Shelton Reed, expert on all things Southern." (Peter Applebome, in his excellent
book Dixie Rising -- How the South is Shaping American Values, Politics
and Culture.
Not ones to ignore good advice (too often), we started our in-person research with John.
In addition to writing numerous books on the subject, John helped found the Center for the Study of the American South at UNC Chapel Hill, and the journal Southern Cultures. We learned a lot about the South from John, including some fascinating ways to define who's Southern (it's more than just geography!).
John and his wife are currently researching Southern barbecue, and at John's suggestion, we met at a traditional North Carolina barbecue restaurant (serving the vinegar-type sauce, NOT the mustard-based kind of South Carolina or the tomato- based kind found in Texas). After a highly-informative discussion and terrific lunch, John gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen.
Marcie Cohen Ferris
November 2
Marcie is an assistant professor in American Studies at
the UNC at Chapel Hill, the Associate
Director of the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies (center website), and a member of the board of the Southern Foodways Alliance.
We met with Marcie at 3CUPS, a wine, coffee and tea bar in Chapel Hill. She shared her thoughts about growing up Jewish in the South, and the movement toward organic and sustainable ingredients in new-Southern cooking.
Harry L. Watson
November 3
Harry is Professor of History at UNC and Director of the Center for the Study of the American South, where we met (center website).
Harry explained many of the surprises and contradictions of the South. "We have more in common [with the rest of the U.S.] than might meet the eye."
Cindy Streett
November 3
Cindy grew up in a small city in South Carolina; raised two daughters in Columbia, SC; worked for a start-up in Silicon Valley for four years; and now works for a software company in Durham.
...Yahweh ben Yahweh ben Yahweh
November 3
Yahweh ben Yahweh ben Yahweh (left) greeted us warmly during a gathering of his local followers. He was accompanied by Elder Boas (right).
It was explained to us that Yahweh ben Yahweh ben Yahweh (Hebrew for "God son of God son of God") is the Holy Ghost.
It was explained to us that Yahweh ben Yahweh ben Yahweh (Hebrew for "God son of God son of God") is the Holy Ghost.
John Jennings
November 4
John is the executive director of Favar Ministries, which works with prison inmates and the homeless. John started Favar after spending 11 years in prison for drug and bank robbery convictions.
John is a strong advocate of education for his grandchildren. We met John, one of his daughters and five of his 22 grandchildren during a prospective-student tour of North Carolina Central University.
Kate Forlines
November 4
Kate is a waitress at the extraordinary Magnolia Grill in Durham, which was recommended by John Reed as representative of the best of nouveau Southern cuisine. The grits souffle (with wild mushrooms and foie gras) was amazing!
Will & Ellen Bland
November 6
Will is a criminal defense lawyer in Goldsboro, NC. Ellen plays an active role in her family's business dealing in commercial kitchen appliances.
Will and Ellen graciously invited us to their son's birthday party, then to their house for dinner. Among other things, we discussed recent political changes in North Carolina, as documented in a must-read New Yorker article, State for Sale, documenting the legal-but-scary manipulation of elections.
While at Will and Ellen's we met...
Jamie
While at Will and Ellen's we met...
Jamie
November 6
Jamie grew up on a tobacco farm in southern North Carolina, and works for a small company that manufactures custom steel tanks.
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