But readers, here’s the cool thing. No matter what happens, we know that in the days and months following the election, we will still have each other. Those of us who believe in a better South and a better America, we’ll be together. We might be celebrating. (Oh, I hope we’re celebrating.) And we might be digging really deep to keep our dreams for a better world alive. It’s painfully apparent our country and our political system are not perfect. We are broken in many ways. But right here, right now — as Michelle Obama says — HOPE is making a comeback.
On our cover, a painting by artist Cedric Smith. “For The Love of It” calls on all of us to find the strength and determination and backbone we’ll need to get through the next few months. Inside these pages, Kiese Laymon speaks absolute truths in his Letter From Home. Kiese’s words pulse and blister with power and pain. It is not like any letter we’ve ever published, and we’re honored to share it. Jim Barger Jr. writes about the life and legacy of one of our great heroes, President Jimmy Carter. There’s an opinion piece by 22-year-old recent graduate Claire Hagan, titled “Why I Will Vote.” A masterful music journalist, Jewly Hight, has written a story about one of our favorite up-and-coming artists, MJ Lenderman, and Kimberly Coburn has penned a story about one of Mother Earth’s divine mysteries. There’s Anne Byrn on cake, Caroline Hatchett on clams, Shane Mitchell on kumquats, and Cheryl Day on the sweet memories of her beloved bakery. I hope you will discover and devour all the stories here.
Lastly, Bitter Southerners, before you dig in, I hope you won’t mind one more thought from us on the election. It is this: For any hope to end racism, for women’s rights to their own bodies, for our environment, for our LGBTQ+ family and all families, for sensible gun laws, for our public schools and our children’s safety in them, for our economy and working-class Americans, for immigrants, for an end to anti-Semitism and an end to war and to funding wars that kill precious innocent civilians, for our right to live our lives as we please, for true leadership, for human decency, and for our democracy …
We believe it’s time to “Bring on the Matriarchy.”
We love our country.
We’ll never give up on it.
Please, please vote.
