John Shelton Reed Quotes

A collection of quotes by John Shelton Reed.

John Shelton Reed is a prominent American sociologist and author, born on September 29, 1942. He is widely recognized for his extensive research and influential writings on the culture and society of the American South. Reed received his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and later earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Columbia University.

Throughout his career, Reed has focused on various aspects of Southern culture, including religion, race, food, and politics. He has written numerous highly regarded books, including "The Enduring South: Subcultural Persistence in Mass Society," "1001 Things Everyone Should Know About the South," and "Dixie Bohemia: A French Quarter Circle in the 1920s."

Reed has made significant contributions to the study of Southern identity and is considered an expert in the field. He has also co-authored books with his wife, Dale Volberg Reed, a fellow sociologist. Together, they have explored topics such as Southern social class, regionalism, and contemporary Southern politics.

In addition to his academic work, Reed has been involved in various organizations and served as the editor of the "Journal of Southern History." He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to Southern studies and continues to be an influential figure in the field. Today, John Shelton Reed is regarded as an authoritative voice on Southern culture and society.

I do believe states' rights was a sound doctrine that got hi

I do believe states' rights was a sound doctrine that got hijacked by some unsavory customers for a while - like, 150 years or so. I'm professionally obliged to believe that knowledge is better than ignorance, but some kinds of forgetting are OK with me.

John Shelton Reed

Knowledge

I think there's a suspicion in the South of people putting o

I think there's a suspicion in the South of people putting on airs. You see it in most successful Southern politicians, but you also see it in someone like Richard Petty, who may be a multimillionaire stock car driver, but he's also beloved because he has a nice self-deprecatory way about him.

John Shelton Reed

Car

Southerners smile more than other Americans.

Southerners smile more than other Americans.

John Shelton Reed

Smile

There's an ethic that says: 'You don't run off to the church

There's an ethic that says: 'You don't run off to the church for the sacraments of salvation, you establish a personal relationship with God. You don't run off to the courts for justice, you settle it yourself. You don't run off to labor unions to sort out your work relations, you can take this job and shove it if you don't like what you're doing.'

John Shelton Reed

Relationship

Maybe we've been brainwashed by 130 years of Yankee history,

Maybe we've been brainwashed by 130 years of Yankee history, but Southern identity now has more to do with food, accents, manners, music than the Confederate past. It's something that's open to both races, a variety of ethnic groups and people who move here.

John Shelton Reed

Food