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Deep South Quotes

Personal memories and history from the American Deep South

These quotes offer personal reflections on growing up in the Deep South during the mid-20th century, including candid family memories about racial attitudes toward Black identity at the time.

In my life, I've had estates in Russia, houses in Spain, in Norway, in the deep south of America.

Quotes by Penelope Wilton

When I was growing up, my mother used to say, 'Don't ever bring no nappy-head Black girl to my house.' In the deep South in the '50s, '60s and '70s, the shade of your Blackness was considered important. So I,...

Quotes by Mathew Knowles

Early on, one of my favorites was Ray Charles. I remember hearing 'I Can't Stop Loving You' in the early '60s and thinking, 'What an unbelievably soulful voice.' In those days, the Deep South was extremely segregated.

Quotes by Don Felder

New Orleans may well have been the most liberal Deep South city in 1954 because of its large Creole population, the influence of the French, and its cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Quotes by Constance Baker Motley

America Quotes

Eudora Welty's 'A Curtain of Green' had an enormous effect on me. But my early attempts to graft stories from the Deep South onto North of England provincialism were not successful. All were rejected.

Quotes by Barry Unsworth

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of memories do these Deep South quotes share?
They include personal family recollections about growing up in the American South, touching honestly on the racial attitudes of the time.
Do the quotes address race and history directly?
Yes, one recalls a parent's remark that reflects how Black identity and skin tone were judged within the family and community during that era.
Is there a music history angle to this collection?
Yes, one quote recalls the impact of hearing Ray Charles as a formative musical memory tied to the region.
What does the New Orleans quote say about the Deep South?
It describes New Orleans as one of the more liberal Deep South cities of its time, crediting its Creole population and French cultural roots.
Is the Deep South described only through history, or also personal life?
Both — one quote also mentions owning homes across several countries in addition to the deep south of America, blending personal history with place.

Others widen the lens to music and culture, recalling the soulful sound of Ray Charles and describing New Orleans as one of the more liberal Deep South cities of its era, shaped by Creole heritage and French influence.