Region, Race and Cities: Interpreting the Urban South

Region, Race, and Cities presents eleven of Goldfield's best essays - three unseen till now - in one volume, providing an overview of the evolution of southern urban history into a vibrant and legitimate branch of southern history. Goldfield's grasp is extensive. He discusses the economic importance of the South's antebellum towns, the impact of World War II on southern cities, voting rights and black political power, issues of urban policy and quality of life, the survival of southern identity, and much more. Two principles formulated early in his career continue to guide his thinking: first, the importance of southern cities and their similarity to other urban locales in the country, possibly throughout the world; and second, the intimate interactions between the South's cities and the region as a whole.