Southern legislatures undermine democracy through rules changes

After making gains in the recent midterms, Republican lawmakers in states across the South are altering legislative rules to sidestep the usual process for passing bills. Pro-democracy advocates say the changes are an abuse of power that would harm marginalized communities and undermine the people's will. (2/8/2023)

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VOICES: Latest police killings show diversity cannot change a racist system

The recent deaths of Black men at the hands of police in Memphis, Tennessee, and Raleigh, North Carolina, show that hiring more Black officers and chiefs does not change an inherently biased system. (2/2/2023)

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The South's Asian American population is booming — and diverse

Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the United States, and a recent report from University of North Carolina researchers shows their population is diverse and growing rapidly in the Southeast — and in North Carolina in particular. (2/10/2023) 

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VOICES: 'There will be no integrity lessons in Cop City'

This week the family of Manuel "Tortuguita" Páez Terán, the Atlanta forest defender shot to death by Georgia state troopers, held a press conference to demand more details into the investigation of the incident. Here is the statement made by their older brother, Daniel Páez, a veteran of the U.S. nuclear Navy who was stationed in Georgia. (2/9/2023)

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The South's union membership stagnates, but workplace protests grow

While public support for labor unions in the U.S. is at its highest level in a half-century, the portion of Southern workers in unions did not grow last year, even though unions added new members. But strikes and other workplace protests in the region jumped by over 20%, showing growing labor activism.

RSVP to Southern Exposure's 50th!

Please RSVP here to attend a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Southern Exposure, the award-winning journal and magazine produced by the Institute for Southern Studies! Events will be held March 11 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina's Southern Historical Collection and North Carolina Collection, the Center for the Study of the American South, and its affiliate programs. The program schedule is as follows: 

1 p.m.: Southern Exposure founding and origins panel featuring Bob Hall, Leah Wise, and Sue Thrasher
2 p.m.: Explore physical Southern Exposure and Institute-related archival material from the UNC Southern Historical Collection and interact with the newly released Southern Exposure digital archive
2:30 p.m.: The Movement Today panel
3:30 p.m.: Explore physical Southern Exposure and Institute-related archival material from the UNC Southern Historical Collection and interact with the newly released Southern Exposure digital archive
4 p.m.: Doors close

Looking for summer interns!

The Institute for Southern Studies, publisher of Facing South, is now accepting applications for paid summer internships. An Institute internship is a great way to gain hands-on writing and research experience on issues related to democracy, justice, and sustainability in the South. Internships are paid and typically last 6-8 weeks. For summer 2023, the Institute will be accepting applications for in-person internships at our offices in Durham, North Carolina. Application deadline is 5 p.m. ET on Friday, March 17. For more information, visit here.

State bans on financial firms' fossil-fuel boycotts cost taxpayers

A growing number of states have adopted policies promoted by the corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council punishing financial companies that halt investments in oil, gas, and coal. But they also punish taxpayers by reducing competition among municipal bond underwriters, thus raising interest rates.