College of Charleston English professorย Joe Kellyย has published an article forย The Conversation that examines the racial history behind a recent controversial country music song.
In the article, “Small-town America’s Never-ending Struggle to Maintain its Values Hasn’t Always Been Good for U.S. Democracy,” Kelly says the song, โTry That in a Small Townโ by country singer Jason Aldean, paints a picture of a renewed culture war between urban and rural versions of America. He says the controversy over hidden agendas has diverted attention from Aldeanโs overt message: that cities are turning the nation into chaos and the remedy is a revival of small-town America.
โBut Aldeanโs effort isnโt innocent nostalgia,โ says Kelly. โIt echoes a similar period in American history during the 1920s and 1930s when the grievances of small-town America had dangerous consequences for democracy.โ
