Interview with Dr. Todd Hagstette About Southern Literature and Its Connection to African American History
Dr. Todd Hagstette grew up in Atlanta, GA but has lived in SC permanently since 2005. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia where he double-majored in English and philosophy. Afterward, Hagstette continued his education with a combined program at the College of Charleston and the Citadel where he was an English major. He then went on to earn his doctorate from USC Columbia in English with a concentration in American studies and Southern literature.
This semester, Dr. Hagstette is teaching Southern Literature, a 400-level English class that requires students to read and evaluate various works within the realm of Southern literature. The course is offered as an optional class for the African American Studies minor, a relatively new minor option for students.
“Southern literature and African American literature track very closely together…I think that one of the primary issues that we see dramatized and discussed in southern literary expression are things about race…” -Hagstette on how his English class relates to African American history
Because the class is an option for students with an African American studies minor, there is a goal of providing enough variety for everyone while meeting some expectations. There are works from different centuries, backgrounds, war periods and southern humor.
“We’re in the South…We have to be careful that we don’t diminish people by race or culture. We have to understand that when we talk about southerners, African Americans or other groups generalities can help us but also that there’s individuality.” -The importance of teaching Black history to college-aged students
For instance, Tobacco Road features a poor white community during the early depression era. This is a community that isn’t mentioned often, adding variety to the course.
Later in the semester, students will be given an opportunity to examine blues music because of the connections between folk music and historical slave chants.
When asked about his personal interests in southern literature, the response was unexpected. Hagstette states that he is interested in the concept of honor. Specifically writing that takes place during the violent practice of dueling. When two men are in a duel, they write letters back and forth to give the opponent a chance to apologize and schedule one if need be.
Hagstette, also interested in southern exceptionalism and “othering”, offers a lesson on the topics. Southern exceptionalism says that the south is a unique place compared to the rest of the country.
“Othering is when a culture, in this case, America, will take all of the things that it’s ashamed of and place them on another, in this case, the south…the south is associated with racism…violent…impoverished…all of these negative characteristics that are problems nationwide are seen to be only in the south”
Hagstette has been to many conferences in Europe and has experiences with those who live outside of the United States having a different viewpoint.
“They view the south as a place where all of the issues of being an American are on display. So where we see othering, they see that as American culture.”
Hagstette is most excited to get to the African American writers later on in the semester. There are two books by Black authors who don’t exactly write within the stereotype of the African American experience. Zora Neele Herston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God” and “Erasure” by Percival Everett.
