With its singing cicadas, kudzu, ghosts, gospels, and breadth of culture, the South is fertile ground for storytellers. Now, a new PBS series, “Southern Storytellers,” captures intimate moments with Southern writers, musicians and artists, offering their reflections on how the South speaks through their work and inspires their creativity.
The first episode presents actors and songwriters Billy Bob Thornton and Mary Steenburgen, along with the writer David Joy and the Atlanta-based Pulitzer-winning poet Jericho Brown.
In this interview, “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes speaks with Brown about participating in the new series.
“I understood that words have power, that how we categorize things makes a difference, and that articulation would be the key to my own freedom,” Brown said.
“Southern Storytellers” premieres on WABE-TV July 18 at 9 p.m., and more information is available here.
