This collection investigates the socio-political future of the American South during a period of significant cultural transition. Editors H. Brandt Ayers and Thomas H. Naylor compile essays from various contributors to examine the region's identity, economic challenges, and the necessity of moving beyond traditionalist mythologies to address modern systemic issues.

Experts often categorize this work as a significant artifact of 1970s regional political discourse. Readers frequently note that the text provides a candid look at the intellectual climate of the era, serving as a primary source for understanding the shifting identity of the American South.