understanding the american south
a multigenre syllabus on the history, identity, and culture(s) of the american southeast - a region often known otherwise as simply “the south” or “the deep south,” consisting in part of “the bible belt” and parts of appalachia.
created by moski
last updated April, 2026
Comments
a few notes:
- while among my southern friends this might seem controversial, i’m including florida despite the fact of its contemporary differences from the rest of american southern culture. historically and in certain areas of the state, its connection to the history and identity of the american south cannot be overlooked!
- i am always eager for more voices and recommendations! especially black southern voices!
What is the florida discourse? (My dad’s roots are georgia/tennessee but he relocated to fl before i was born but i dont know much abt this side of my heritage)
moskiOP
it’s more jokey discourse!! a lot of people from the “deep south” argue that florida and texas are not part of the region, despite being physically in the region if that makes sense. pointing to florida and texas having very different state-specific cultures compared to the rest of the american south! but while i agree that a lot of southern florida differs from the rest of the us south it shares a lot of the same history and i don’t think we can totally write it off as not southern. idk it’s complex and people (usually jokingly) argue abt it all the time 😭
Oh id love to more if youre able to a tldr of the different cultures?
moskiOP
ooo yes!!! i’ll definitely write a little something up and maybe find some resources too! it’s talked about a lot online and i am definitely not the definitive source but i can give my personal outlook and some things ive read!!
I would love! Whenever u have spoons. Thank u sm!!!!!!!!!!
Someone on wattpad (we were like 14?) from louisiana once told me florida (or georgia?? Idr) was NOT the south, very seriously. I have been confused until now (though still a bit bc they very werent joking)
moskiOP
ugh people get SO needlessly upset abt this!! i honestly think a lot of it is condescension towards florida rather than any sort of honest consideration of culture and regional identity. personally i consider florida to be a part of the south but not a part of subregions like the bible belt! im sorry that person was so weird w u ://
Yet another wonderful reminder for me to read The Sound and The Fury! and Their Eyes Were Watching God and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil both sound so interesting. Another point for moski and another L for my TBR 😂
moskiOP
hehehe tysm amanda!!! maybe we can buddy read one!
Hahaha that would be fun! I don't know which one you're most interested in, but I'm down for any, they all sound really interesting. Just let me know when you're free/would be up for it, and we can plan a cute buddy read 🙂↕️. No pressure of course!
moskiOP
either sound and fury or midnight in the garden sound great to me!!! maybe in may? my april is CRAZY 😭😭
I feel like I will need another person's help reading Faulkner again, for sure, since I barely understood As I Lay Dying 😅 so TSaTF sounds great! But I fear it'll have to wait because my May and June are going to be insane too, since I'm graduating in July so I'll be riddled with exams and my thesis until then 😩😩😩 this adult life is getting ridiculous. Good luck this april with whatever's coming your way maggie! We need to revisit this plan when we both can hahaha
moski as a tennesseean i am going absolutely wild for this list. honestly my favorite i’ve seen on PB yet
I just finished reading Elegy for Mary Turner: An Illustrated Account of a Lynching by Rachel Marie-Crane Williams (non-fiction) and then this list just popped up in my feed. It’s a short yet powerful read, set in GA, 1918. I think it would fit your list. Either way I highly recommend it!
