Letter by Kyle Tibbs Jones

 
 

7/08/26
—
Originally published in Issue No. 14 of The Bitter Southerner Magazine

Dear Readers,

Have you ever been invited to a party you did not want to attend? The invitation arrives, you’re filled with dread, and immediately your mind goes to work conjuring up all the excuses and reasons and words you’ll use to RSVP. In the end, you reply with “Regretfully I cannot be there, but thank you so much for inviting me!” If you’re Southern, sweetness abounds; and if you’re responding by text, you add exclamation points, the praying hands emoji, or a rainbow for emphasis. 

This is where we’re at, y’all. 

Our country’s semiquincentennial, the historic milestone marking 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 … is here. Normally, we’d arrive early with an ice cream churn, spare ribs, and a parade. But for a million obvious reasons, these times don’t seem right for celebration. Besides, the man with the orange tan will be there to ruin the festivities, (he’s already tried to ruin everything!) and we’re not in the mood. So the bottom line: We love our country deeply, but on this important year, we’re not up for a big party. THERE WILL BE NO CAKE.

 
 
 
 

With all of that said, I’d like to welcome you to Issue No. 14. An issue where we celebrate the America we know and love with incredible writing and art and photography for the people all across our country and the globe who want better for these United States of America.

On our cover, a stunning circa 1826 painting by American artist Thomas Cole — an immigrant from England. It’s titled “The Tempest” and isn’t that just perfect for this moment? The High Museum of Art in Atlanta is revealing a new American floor this year and Cole’s painting is among the work featured there — and in this issue. In these pages you’ll also find “Fabienne’s America: One Bite At A Time.” Fabienne Toback, who lives in Paris, was the executive producer of the Peabody Award winning High on the Hog Netflix series. Here she writes a reflective piece on her very American food story. The incomparable Roxane Gay writes about journalism — the media — and where it’s all (maybe) heading. Author Lauren Collins, also an American living in Paris, pens an essay about an actual coup d’état on American soil — a horrifying event our history books failed to mention. Our excerpt from her important new book, They Stole A City is powerful. Speaking of books, Katie Mitchell once again delivers a summer reading list that’s spot-on for this moment. I chat with the wildly charming Kris Cravens-Hutton of Kris And Dave on Instagram about love, her fierce political activism, and salty language. We’re sharing four beautiful poems, one by the acclaimed Ocean Vuong that crushed us in the best way. One of my favorite people in music, Song Exploder’s Hrishikesh Hirway writes about creating his first record, a hushed, beautiful memoir in song. There’s another therapy session plus stories on magical thinking, voting, AI, shit, and hell. (Yes, you read that right.) Turn these gorgeous pages to read them all. Our End Notes in this issue is “Party Canceled” by Lisa Donovan, and it’s a scorcher. Save it for last. 

Thank you for being here, and for your support. And about that party, let’s all manifest a post-midterms throwdown, shall we? A real rager. We can do it. I know it. 

See you there, beautiful readers. 

Cake soon,

— Kyle

Kyle Tibbs Jones
Editor & Co-Founder,
The Bitter Southerner

 
 

More from The Bitter Southerner