About the book
When Tammy Wynette sang “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” she famously said she “spelled out the hurtin' words” to spare her child the pain of family breakup. In this innovative work, Ted Ownby considers how a wide range of writers, thinkers, activists, and others defined family problems in the twentieth-century American South. Ownby shows that it was common for both African Americans and whites to discuss family life in terms of crisis, but they reached very different conclusions about causes and solutions. In the civil rights period, many embraced an ideal of Christian brotherhood as a way of transcending divisions. Opponents of civil rights denounced “brotherhoodism” as a movement that undercut parental and religious authority. Others, especially in the African American community, rejected the idea of family crisis altogether, working to redefine family adaptability as a source of strength. Rather than attempting to define the experience of an archetypal “southern family,” Ownby looks broadly at contexts such as political and religious debates about divorce and family values, southern rock music, autobiographies, and more to reveal how people in the South used the concept of the family as a proxy for imagining a better future or happier past.
Editions of Hurtin' Words
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469646992
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469647005
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469647029
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890855312
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469647012
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890855305
Read an Excerpt
When Tammy Wynette sang “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” she famously said she “spelled out the hurtin' words” to spare her child the pain of family breakup. In this innovative work, Ted Ownby considers how a wide range of writers, thinkers, activists, and others defined family problems in the twentieth-century American South. Ownby shows that it was common for both African Americans and whites to discuss family life in terms of crisis, but they reached very different conclusions about causes and solutions. In the civil rights period, many embraced an ideal of Christian brotherhood as a way of transcending divisions. Opponents of civil rights denounced “brotherhoodism” as a movement that undercut parental and religious authority. Others, especially in the African American community, rejected the idea of family crisis altogether, working to redefine family adaptability as a source of strength. Rather than attempting to define the experience of an archetypal “southern family,” Ownby looks broadly at contexts such as political and religious debates about divorce and family values, southern rock music, autobiographies, and more to reveal how people in the South used the concept of the family as a proxy for imagining a better future or happier past.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hurtin' Words about?
When Tammy Wynette sang “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” she famously said she “spelled out the hurtin' words” to spare her child the pain of family breakup. In this innovative work, Ted Ownby considers how a wide range of writers, thinkers, activists, and others defined family problems in the twentieth-century American South. Ownby shows that it was common for both African Americans and whites to discuss family life in terms of crisis, but they reached very different conclusions about causes and solutions. In the civil rights period, many embraced an ideal of Christian brotherhood as a way of transcending divisions. Opponents of civil rights denounced “brotherhoodism” as a movement that undercut parental and religious authority. Others, especially in the African American community, rejected the idea of family crisis altogether, working to redefine family adaptability as a source of strength. Rather than attempting to define the experience of an archetypal “southern family,” Ownby looks broadly at contexts such as political and religious debates about divorce and family values, southern rock music, autobiographies, and more to reveal how people in the South used the concept of the family as a proxy for imagining a better future or happier past.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Hurtin' Words?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of Hurtin' Words?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469646992
How long is Hurtin' Words and how many pages does it have?
Hurtin' Words has 352 page(s)
Is Hurtin' Words part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series New Directions in Southern Studies
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Hurtin' Words?
Ted Ownby
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Hurtin' Words is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469646992) and paperback(ISBN 9781469647005) and ebook(ISBN 9781469647029) and ebook(ISBN 9798890855312) and ebook(ISBN 9781469647012) and pdf(ISBN 9798890855305)
Where can I buy Hurtin' Words online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Hurtin' Words from below
Where can I buy Hurtin' Words?