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Clayton State University History

James C. Cobb: "Where the Heck is the South"

On October 25, 2006, Dr. James C. Cobb, the B. Phinizy Spalding Distinguished Professor of History, at the University of Georgia, spoke at Clayton State University about what exactly makes the South different from other regions in the United States.

The program, entitled “Where the Heck is the South?,” and sponsored by Clayton State ’s Department of Social Sciences, focused on all aspects of southern history and culture, both positive and negative. Cobb discussed various characteristics of the South and southern culture that sets this region apart from all of the other regions in the U.S.

You may view the entire program here. And the PowerPoint presentation he used is also available for download.

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Cobb has done extensive research in the area of southern history, and currently teaches courses in southern history and culture at the University of Georgia. He has also served as the president of the Southern Historical Association, and written many publications in this area of study as well.

Cobb’s publications include Away Down South: A History of Southern Identity (Oxford, 2005), The Selling of the South: The Southern Crusade for Industrial Development, 1936-1990 ( Illinois , 1993) and The Most Southern Place on Earth: The Mississippi Delta and the Roots of Regional Identity (Oxford, 1992).

The Georgia Writers Association, in conjunction with Kennesaw State University, gave its 2006 Georgia Author of the Year Award in History to Cobb's The Brown Decision, Jim Crow and Southern Identity. In this spirited defense of the landmark civil rights case and its place in our history, Cobb addresses a growing trend of dismissiveness and negativity toward the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling and other accomplishments of the civil rights movement.

Cobb also has a blog ( http://www.cobbloviate.com ) that discusses current events and politics and gives a few samples of his writings.

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