Summer "Roots" Issue

Here in the south, family is a popular topic of conversation. “Who’re your people?” is an almost universal greeting, trailing closely the OTHER important question, “What church do you go to?” But when we speak of “roots”, we’re really talking about beginnings of things, usually the beginnings of things important to our families, our communities, and us.

We have stories of many beginnings, starting with the Longleaf pine and continuing with subjects as varied as farming, Southern food, rail transportation, and our own origins - but this is NOT Darwinian! It’s all about curiosity, a favorite trait at Longleaf.

If you’re curious about the Longleaf region, you’ll find a lot to think about when you read Bill Garland’s account of the life of a longleaf pine. It’s a compelling story of a 300-year journey, a single tree bearing witness to our history.

And do you remember Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book Roots, published in 1976? The saga of his search for his family history awakened a deep interest in genealogy and the stories passed down through generations that enrich our sense of family and home. You will be fascinated by Markeshia Ricks’s account of Chris Haley’s memory of his uncle, the book,and the mini-series.

John Fleming introduces us to Jean Baptiste Baudrau II, the dashing scoundrel with whom hundreds along the Gulf Coast claim ancestry. That so many seek proof of familial ties to Jean Baptiste suggests that we’re all secretly proud of the scoundrels in our family tree.

Longleaf continues to attract outstanding writers with extensive Southern connections. In this issue we have two Pulitzer Prize-winners; of course, there’s our hometown boy Rick Bragg, who introduces a beautiful section of memories of home. And we are pleased to welcome a new friend of Longleaf Style, Diane McWhorter, who writes about her native Birmingham today. Diane is the author of Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama—The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2002.

This “home” section is completed with a very personal memory by Edith Alston, Anniston native and former living editor of The Anniston Star. Her mother, Cornelia Alston, the subject of this issue’s excerpt from Edith’s book-in-the-works, Pickups, was society editor at The Star in the 40s and 50s.

What would an issue about “Roots” be without reference to Southerners’ obsession with good food? Nathalie Dupree, the noted food writer and television personality from Charleston shares her wit and wisdom–and some prized recipes–and answers the intriguing question “Just what is Southern food?” And where does much of that fresh food come from? Deirdre Long, The Anniston Star entertainment editor, gets to the roots of farming and the modern trends in cooking “local.”

Along with the exciting new writers in Longleaf, some of our outstanding “repeaters” are here also: Bob Davis with the scurrilous beginnings of the railroad’s route into Anniston, and Brett Buckner on noted wood artist Dale Lewis. Loyd McIntosh shares one man’s journey to finding his Cherokee roots and Sherry Kughn introduces readers to a new collection of Native American artifacts on display at the Oxford Public Library. Last, but certainly, not least, the inspiration for the “Roots” issue, the heartwarming story of her search for a co-worker’s birth family is recounted by managing editor Theresa Shadrix.

So, there are many beginnings for you to savor–but before you dig in to the magazine, celebrate with us the great news for Longleaf Style. We’ve won a Silver and two Bronze awards, plus an honorable mention, from the Magazine Association of the Southeast. We’re enjoying the applause, but it makes us even more determined to produce a better product! Give us your feedback and help us to spread our wings.

Josephine E. Ayers
Editor-in-Chief