Section Labels

- Southern Food

Southern food is a representation of the diverse cultures and economic standing that
created a shared sense of community. Corn was introduced to Southern colonists by
Indigenous groups; fried chicken was a tradition of Scottish and African culture; one pot
meals, such as gumbo and jambalaya, derive from various spices and cooking traditions
of the French, Mexican, and Spanish.

Other traditional ingredients, such as greens and crawfish, were foraged from the region
due to the financial strain of living off an agricultural economy. Combined together, these
dishes create a sense of belonging, understanding, and melancholy affection amongst
Southerners. Enjoyed across the entire nation, southern food has become a valued cuisine
and played an important role in the creation of famous fast-food chains--such as KFC,
Bojangles, and Popeyes--which are represented above you.

- Southern Music

The South has played a crucial role in the American music industry. Iconic genres--such
as jazz, blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, and rock n’ roll--are vibrant styles that struck
the hearts of people around the world. Many of these genres derive from the Irish,
Scottish, English, and African cultures that make up the region. Praising the region’s
natural beauty whilst addressing its divisive political and social history makes this music
uniquely Southern in form, phrase, and connection.

These stereotypical genres are not the only ones present in Southern culture. Hip hop,
pop, and rap music play a crucial role in the southern music industry. Addressing ideas of
racism, white supremacy, urbanization, lawlessness, and often a distinct black Southern
culture, these genres addressed a lifestyle and political history that was unique to this
region but understood by a larger audience.

- Southern Art

Southern Art reflects the shared cultural, political, and social experiences of those who
call the Southeastern United States home. These artists create various forms and genres
that convey a story of place and emotion, whether it be personal or cultural. This story is
also usually related to the region’s controversial history of enslavement, civil rights, and
diverse beliefs.

Southern art includes aspects of Southern expressionism, folk art, and modernism. While
some genres are rooted in traditions, others create a modern interpretation of events,
people, and cultural understanding. From memorial to protest, Southern art stands as a
symbol of Southern identity and history.

Group Labels
- Corn 
From grits to grain, corn became a staple of the southern diet.
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Maize was originally cultivated by Indigenous peoples from Mexico. When colonial
settlers arrived in North America, the crop--and knowledge to grow it--was introduced to
them by Indigenous nations. Maize became such an important food crop to colonists that
it was appropriated and given the English generic name for cereal plants: corn. 

Corn needs considerable space to grow. As a largely agricultural region with a temperate
climate, the South became the ideal location. Its abundance and various forms made corn
a staple food within southern cuisine. It could be consumed fresh as a vegetable; ground
into meal or flour to make cornbread, tortillas, or breading for frying; rendered into syrup
and distilled as whiskey and moonshine; and famously boiled into cornmeal and grits. 

- Art as Protest
Art can challenge the boundaries of those in power and contribute to social
change. 
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Often addressing socio-political issues, art opens up the space to raise awareness about
what is happening in society. The artist themselves, or those who commission for the art
to be made, present their own beliefs, meaning, and intent through the piece. This can be
seen in the contrasting narrative of Confederate statues and the Mary Turner Sculpture
seen below. 

Both artworks address racial relations in the South and the history of violence that
revolves around such. Under the guise of remembering history, Confederate monuments
were constructed to remind African Americans during Reconstruction and the 20th
century that white supremacy and power still persisted in the US. The Mary Turner
sculpture demonstrates “a silent protest” against acts of mob violence and white
supremacy in the US. Made to protest those in power, these opposing artworks
demonstrate how art challenges societal norms and actions.
Object Labels

- Air Conditioning:
The Coolest Thing About the South 
1930's Air Conditioning unit first installed in Atlanta.
 
Hopping from one AC environment to the next has become a way of life for
Southerners. Within the hot, humid climate of the region, it was the invention of air
conditioning that allowed the South to become the social, business, and cultural
center it is today. The modern air conditioner was invented by Willis Carrier (portable
by Fredrick Jones) in 1902. The device could control temperature and humidity
within an indoor environment. 

Air conditioning made the urban population and technological growth of the 20th
century possible. Once considered a luxury, this invention became essential for
cooling homes, businesses, medical centers, and more. As heat rises, living
comfortably in buildings above two or three stories in the South was made possible
through AC. Computers and electronics also create lots of heat; cooling
technologies--and the growth of the IT industry at large--could not have happened
without the inspiration of AC. 
 
- Indigenous Fire:
Southern Oral Traditions
Cherokee Sacred Fire Reproduction

What about Southern culture before the written record? Southern heritage and stories
have been passed down for centuries through oral traditions. A form of
communication through speech or song, oral traditions are a historical record of a
culture's beliefs, knowledge, art, and ideas. While oral traditions are often viewed as
“unprovable” or “opinionated”, they are a true historical narrative that should not be
discredited. 

For Indigenous peoples in particular, oral traditions are used as a way to communicate
their culture and beliefs to the next generation. When many nations, such as the
Cherokee, were forced to relocate due to colonist encroachment, oral traditions
became a way for them to remain connected to their culture and homeland. Objects,
such as the Cherokee sacred fire seen above, provide a story-telling tool and physical
context for the oral traditions of their people and Southern history. 
- Brer Rabbit Stuffed Animal: 
It’s a Tricky Tale
Stuffed animal of Brer Rabbit from the Disney movie “Song of the South”

Brer Rabbit is an iconic and controversial figure of Southern folklore. Originally a

part of African tradition, the tale of Brer Rabbit was brought into the Southern US by
enslaved peoples. He is a trickster character who succeeds with his wits rather than by
brawn. Though successful in his tricks, Brer Rabbit’s amoral nature and extreme
behavior are something to admire and be cautious of at the same time. 

Brer Rabbit’s most famous representation in the US is within the collection of Uncle
Remus stories adapted by Joel Chandler Harris. Walt Disney Company took these
stories and made them into the controversial film “Song of the South.” The movie
depicts a stereotyped and offensive narrative of what life was like in the South during
the 20th century, especially for African Americans. Through this, Brer Rabbit has
become a divisive character that demonstrates the societal, cultural, and political
influences that affect Southern folklore.

- Gumbo:
Southern Soup
Gumbo Replica

Gumbo reflects the early mixing of African, European, and Indigenous traditions in
the South. Gumbo’s name derives from an African word for okra, one of the dishes
common ingredients, which was brought from Africa through the slave trade. Two
other thickeners further reflect the ethnic diversity of the South. Roux--flour browned
in oil--is French, while file--powdered sassafras leaves--is Indigenous.

Spices, aromatic vegetables, and seafood or meat complete the dish, which is usually
served over rice. Recipes for this dish vary across families, areas, and the South in
general. This iconic Southern dish also represents the diverse nature of those who
consider themselves “Southern”. Share your gumbo recipe or make your own at our
virtual interactive to your right!
- Mary Turner Lynching Statue:
Peace after Violence
Painted plaster sculpture of Mary Turner and Child by Meta Fuller, 1919. 

The key message of this artwork is in the engraving at its base: “In Memory of Mary
Turner As A Silent Protest Against Mob Violence.” Mary Turner was an African
American woman whose husband was lynched by a white mob in Georgia in 1918.
Mary was eight months pregnant at the time. She protested the murder, and was killed
as a result. A white mob took Mary to a bridge, hung her by her ankles, set her on
fire, cut open her womb, and shot the body of her and her unborn child.

Mary is depicted here with her child rising from the flames, out of the reach of their
tormentors. Meta Fuller, the artist, was one of the few female African American
artists in the early 20th century. This piece is a form of protest against those in power
who abuse their position and those below them. 

*On loan from the Museum of African American History, Boston and Nantucket.

- Fiddle:
Fiddle Faddle
Fiddle from Jasper, Pickens County, GA. 1967

The fiddle played an instrumental role in the development of Southern music.

Derived from early Irish and Scottish traditions, the instrument became one of the
primary sounds in country, bluegrass, and folk music. The region's working people
used this music, and instruments like the fiddle, to distinguish their identity, build
community ties, and present emotional release in a society that often valued labor
over relaxation. This particular fiddle has elements of straight-grained forest pine and
cherry wood. The back is curly, or “fiddle-back” maple.

*By Sherman Cagle

- Christening Outfit
Diverse Denominations
Christening gown, 1868.

Christening is seen as a ceremony of joining the Christian faith or church. Religion is

imperative to Southern culture, and many Southerners experience some form of
christening or baptism in their lives. This christening gown would have been worn by
a child for a baptism ceremony. 

Baptism is a sacrament for both Catholics and Protestants, but certain protestant faiths
will not allow baptism as a child. Baptist, the largest religion in the South, does not
believe in infant baptism; they believe a person is baptized on the basis of his or her
profession, which excludes children who are not old enough to earnestly profess their
faith. This outfit demonstrates the diverse religions within the South, even within
similar denominations. 

*Donated by Mrs. John M. Berry from Rome, Floyd County GA. 

- Fox Theatre Seat

Southern Theatre
Fox Theatre Replication Seat

Despite its distance from New York City or Los Angeles, the South has a rich history
of the theatrical arts. From the racially stereotyped minstrel shows of the 19th and
20th century to the traveling Broadway performance of the modern day, the South has
become a hub of theatrical performance and culture that reflect the region's history,
politics, and national connection. This Fox Theatre seat above highlights such. 

The Fox Theatre was originally designed as a headquarters for Atlanta’s Shriners
organization. To represent their prominent status, the Shriners looked to the powerful
cultures of the East, which can be seen in the Egyptian motifs present on the seat.
Exceeding their budget, the Shriners leased the space to William Fox, who made it a
theatre space. Named after him, the Fox Theatre has showcased performances from
Elvis Presley to Aretha Franklin and hosted countless Broadway shows.