Introduction

In 2010, the Association of American Geographers’ Study of the American South Specialty Group held its inaugural Plenary Lecture at the AAG’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The plenary lecture is designed to honor scholars who are making significant contributions to our understanding of the geographies of the American South.

The inaugural Study of the American South Specialty Group plenary was presented by Jamie Winders of Syracuse University. Dr. Winders is well-known as a leading expert on the growth of Latino migration to the American South, and its impact on both the region and the migrants themselves. Her presentation, “Re-Placing Southern Geographies: The Role of Latino Migration in Transforming the South, Its Identities, and Its Study,” is far-reaching in asking us as scholars of the American South to examine how this migration is transforming the South as a place and a region. Following the presentation, Robert Yarbrough (Georgia Southern University) and Thomas Chapman (Old Dominion University), both experts on the fluid nature of identity/identities in the American South, provided insightful commentaries on Dr. Winders’ presentation. Extended versions of all three presentations are included in this section.

Founded in 2007 by Derek Alderman and Bill Graves, The AAG Study of the American South Specialty Group strives to create a national platform for promoting study of the social, political, cultural, economic, and ecological aspects of the American South, and encouraging critical reflection on the issues, processes, intrinsic qualities, and interconnections that shape the region and its landscapes. Membership in the Specialty Group is open to all AAG members. We thank the editors of the Southeastern Geographer for agreeing to publish the Plenary Lecture and Commentaries.