Red States: Indigeneity, Settler Colonialism, and Southern Studies

Red States uses a regional focus to examine the tenets of white southern nativism and Indigenous resistance to colonialism in the U.S. South, arguing that non-Native audiences imagine indigeneity through specious histories presented in regional literary texts. Gina Caison's book illuminates the region's continued investment in settler colonialism and Indigenous resistance, concluding that it is made up of red states, but not in the way readers initially imagine.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 298 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2020
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Red States employs a regional lens to delve into the core principles of white southern nativism and Indigenous resistance to colonialism in the U.S. South. Gina Caison contends that prevailing misconceptions about Native American identity in the region can be unraveled by tracing how non-Native audiences in the area have constructed notions of indigeneity through the presentation of dubious historical narratives in regional literary texts. She further explores how Indigenous people actively challenge these narratives to uphold their sovereign land claims within their ancestral territories through their own literary and cultural creations. Caison's research demonstrates that these conversations in the U.S. South have far-reaching implications for how contemporary conservative political discourses resonate across the United States.

To shed light on this complex phenomenon, Caison has assembled a newly constituted archive that encompasses regional theatrical and musical performances, pre-Civil War literatures, and contemporary novels. Through this comprehensive approach, she illuminates the ongoing investment in settler colonialism in the U.S. South and the steadfast Indigenous resistance to this paradigm. Ultimately, Caison concludes that the region is indeed characterized by red states, albeit in a manner that may differ from initial perceptions.

This study offers valuable insights into the ongoing struggles and resilience of Indigenous communities in the U.S. South, highlighting the importance of recognizing and challenging historical narratives that perpetuate settler colonialism and marginalize Indigenous voices. It underscores the need for a more nuanced understanding of the region's political landscape and the complex interplay between cultural, historical, and social factors that shape its identity.

Weight: 456g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820358796