Written by John Edward Betancourt Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season One Finale of ‘Down in the Valley’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Often times, small town life in the deep south is portrayed in popular media in a very specific manner. Wherein life slows down and is simple in nature. Because the folks that populate that town understand they are free from the hustle and bustle of city dwellers and city life, they can just kick back and enjoy the world that surrounds them and be amongst a close-knit community. One that is populated with generations of families that know one another well, own a fair chunk of the town and get along well, minus a few disputes… because they’ve discovered the value of harmony. In fact, one could almost say that such depictions of the deep south, relate to the birth of Americana in the United States. Since in many ways, suburban life in the 1950s and on, was designed to replicate just that. But while that is a lovely image to see in films, one that we truly all know well, is that really what life is like in the deep south? Or has that too changed and altered with the American landscape and gone the way of Americana? Well as it turns out, for the season one finale of Down in the Valley, our intrepid host Nicco Annan informed us of the fact that yes, life in the south does indeed resemble that, but that it might not be exactly as advertised in television and film. For ‘Ten Toes Down’ spotlighted Charleston, Mississippi. A town that indeed harbors some of those popular media tropes. After all, there is a family that is in charge of just about everything in this town, and it harbors a community that knows one another closely and invites people in to take part in that sense of unity. The only difference is, there are no elderly Caucasian men in fine white suits enjoying a mint julip at town hall amid a summer heat wave. No instead, this particular story informed us that small town life in the deep south is in fact, far more diverse. Since Charleston, is run and sustained by an African American family known as the Smiths… and their lives and their journey… was simply fascinating to learn about here. Simply because, this family defied the odds and managed to purchase eighty-five acres of land. Giving them a vast majority of the land in town to control and use for farmland and it was no easy task to get there. After all, in order to have that kind of control in 2024… hardships had to happen ages ago, and those that came before the current generation of Smiths fought hard and battled racism and roadblocks to accomplish their goal. Which was to live the American Dream and own land and build a business and, in this instance, shape the future of a town the way they saw fit and well… the end result of that dream is a wondrous community that speaks to a beautiful blend of what came before and what lie ahead. In large part because the Smiths, have adapted with the times. For in this era, where farming and agriculture in general has been handed over to larger corporations, the Smiths have worried less about farming… in part because the land isn’t quite as fertile as it used to be… and have focused more upon what the land and community can do for a person’s soul. By hosting parties and events that allow for one to just be part of nature, with some of the comforts we currently enjoy, and that has helped to keep this community close and happy, and it has helped some to straight up heal and find focus, and it allows for folks passing through to enjoy that small town vibe and feel welcomed because the Smiths do indeed believe in the charm of southern hospitality. All of which made for an incredible story. For this showcased… how the spirit of the south and what we believe it stands for, transcends stereotypes and tropes. It’s about harmony, and people, and who we become when we all contribute to the whole and that makes Charleston a place, we should all learn from. Because it resembles the promise of America and what it should stand for and well, what an amazing way to wrap up this journey through the south, one that we hopefully get more of. Since one gets the sense that there is more to learn here, and it would be a true joy to come back here for more adventures and see the south as it really is and enjoy all the wonder and love it has to offer. Until next time.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
September 2024
|