John Shelton Reed
John Shelton Reed
Biography of a Prolific Writer and Sociologist
Full Name and Common Aliases
John Shelton Reed was an American sociologist, writer, and educator. He is commonly known as Shelton Reed.
Birth and Death Dates
Reed was born on December 27, 1937, in Newnan, Georgia. He passed away on August 23, 2018, at the age of 80.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: American
Profession: Sociologist, Writer, Educator
Early Life and Background
John Shelton Reed grew up in a rural area of Georgia during the Great Depression. His family moved to Atlanta when he was eight years old. Reed's early life had a significant impact on his academic pursuits and sociological interests.
Reed's father worked as an insurance agent, which allowed him to pursue higher education without financial burdens. He attended the University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in sociology. After graduating from college, Reed received a Fulbright Fellowship, which enabled him to study at Oxford University for two years.
Major Accomplishments
Reed's academic career spanned over five decades. He was a renowned sociologist who made significant contributions to the field of sociology, particularly in the areas of social inequality and cultural studies. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
Reed served as a professor at several institutions, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he spent most of his career.
He held various administrative positions, such as department chair and associate dean.
Reed was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Southern Sociological Society.Notable Works or Actions
Reed's academic output was impressive. Some of his notable works include:
"One South: An Ethnic Approach to Regional History" (1982) - This book is considered one of Reed's magnum opuses, exploring the concept of a "Southern identity."
"The Enduring South: Permanent Chance and Myth in a Changing Society" (1974) - In this work, Reed examined the idea that the South remains distinct from other regions in the United States.
Reed was also known for his essays on Southern culture and history, which were published in various journals and collections.
Impact and Legacy
Reed's impact on sociology and cultural studies is undeniable. His work continues to influence scholars and researchers today. Some of his contributions include:
Challenging traditional notions of regional identity and social inequality.
Encouraging interdisciplinary approaches to understanding human behavior and society.
* Reed's commitment to teaching and mentoring has inspired generations of students and colleagues.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
John Shelton Reed is widely quoted and remembered for his insightful writings on Southern culture and history. His work continues to be relevant today, offering valuable perspectives on issues such as social inequality, cultural identity, and the complexities of regional history.
Reed's legacy extends beyond academia, influencing public discourse and informing policy discussions. His dedication to scholarship and education has left a lasting impact on his field and beyond.
Quotes by John Shelton Reed
I think there’s a suspicion in the South of people putting on airs. You see it in most successful Southern politicians, but you also see it in someone like Richard Petty, who may be a multimillionaire stock car driver, but he’s also beloved because he has a nice self-deprecatory way about him.
I’ve occasionally wished I had Caller ID. Even telemarketers, I hate to hang up on them. I try to explain I’m not interested, but they have all these canned responses so I end up having to hang up on them anyway.
Dixie has just fallen to pieces. There are little patches of Dixie. But even in the heart of Dixie – in Alabama – Dixie is slipping. They’ve stopped using the word in commercial listings.
Maybe we’ve been brainwashed by 130 years of Yankee history, but Southern identity now has more to do with food, accents, manners, music than the Confederate past. It’s something that’s open to both races, a variety of ethnic groups and people who move here.
Every Southerner, I think, knows people like Bill Clinton, maybe not quite as smart and maybe not quite as liberal, but kind of a glad-handing, country-club yuppie Southerner. The problem is we don’t have labels for middle-class Southerners.
The South is like my favorite pair of blue jeans. It’s shrunk some, faded a bit, got a few holes in it. it just might split at the seams. It doesn’t look much like it used to, but it’s more comfortable, and there’s probably a lot of wear left in it.
If you care to define the South as a poor, rural region with lousy race relations, that South survives only in geographical shreds and patches and most Southerners don’t live there any more.
You ask people what their ethnicity is, and a lot of Scots-Irish people either don’t know or if they know it they just don’t acknowledge it. It’s not something they really identify with. They’re just plain old Americans, plain vanilla. I don’t think they are a self-conscious voting bloc.
Why can I write ‘South’ with some assurance that you’ll know I mean Richmond and don’t mean Phoenix? What is it that the South’s boundaries enclose?