Civil rights, vaccination equity and the perfect porch cocktail

Your source for Southern stories that challenge us and celebrate us.

Law school tuition paid for by the NAACP LDF, creative campaigns to boost vaccinations, a museum about Southern Jews, and cocktails for porch sipping ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  The American South STORIES THAT CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE US   Thursday, May 27 These scholars promise to practice civil rights in the South Law school tuition paid for by the NAACP LDF, creative campaigns to boost vaccinations, a museum about Southern Jews, and cocktails for porch sipping Welcome to The American South! If you're new here, thank you for subscribing and becoming a part of our community where we focus on producing revelatory journalism about the South. This is a reflective week for me, thinking about equity, what it means for many of us to venture into challenging conversations about social and racial justice anew. This story from South Carolina is a good example of that. How did colleges follow through on 2020 equity promises? Also, these murals honoring George Floyd are moving.  Speaking of beginning again, we have an array of stories this week about new things on the horizon, like the Netflix travel series, "High on the Hog" that highlights Black culture and the roots of African-American cuisine. In New Orleans, the health department is trying something new to reach areas of the city with low vaccination rates. There is even a partnership with bars called Shots for Shots. You can read more here. Also, have you heard of a vaccine lottery? In New Orleans, there is also a new museum opening all about the Southern Jewish experience. And the NAACP Legal Defense Fund is paying for the entire law school education of 10 scholars, with the clause that they will return to the South to practice civil rights for eight years. Finally, I'll leave you with this. It isn't new and it's not about equity but it is about one way to enjoy a long weekend. It's a curated cocktail recipe list by our resident Southern Kitchen writer, Ryan Shepard. Thank you for reading!  Ashley Hopkinson (Editor, The American South)  P.S. Memorial Day is intended to remember those who died while serving. And this video of a service member, who drops everything to honor a fallen soldier, is heartwarming.  What's the South talking about? • Six women reported a Louisiana college student for sexual misconduct • Bill to decriminalize marijuana gains momentum in Louisiana • What's been revealed about the I-40 Hernando de Soto bridge crack? • Abortion access in South : 'We are already fighting a post-Roe existence' Funding the next generation of Southern civil rights lawyers The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund has selected 10 scholars who will receive full law school scholarship with the requirement that they must spend the first eight years of their careers serving Black communities in the South. Contributed by NAACP LDF The NAACP Legal Defense Fund is investing in the next generation of civil rights lawyers — and they're ensuring those newly trained lawyers will help serve Black communities in the South. Scholars will receive a full law school scholarship to cover tuition, room and board along with internship and fellowship opportunities with regional civil rights organizations. "This is a vital step in enabling our Scholars to pursue their careers as civil rights advocates unencumbered by the mounting student debt crisis in this country, while also providing them professional development experiences to equip them to become impactful civil rights lawyers," said Janai Nelson, LDF's Associate Director-Counsel.  Read the full story here.  New museum in New Orleans explores Jewish history in the South The new Museum of Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans documents the history of Jews across the region. Courtesy of the Museum of Southern Jewish Experience The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, opening this month in New Orleans, will share the complex story of the small but vital community of Jewish Southerners. The museum's 9,000 square feet of multimedia exhibits draws on the museum's more than 4,000 artifacts. "We don't have the answer of what is the present state of Southern Jewish identity," curator Anna Tucker said. "That's why I am compelled by the idea that this is a living museum. I see that conversation starting on May 27 when we open our doors." Read the full story here  Six cocktails perfect for porch sipping Country Thyme Lemonade Ramona King/Southern Kitchen Long weekends mean a lot of things. Maybe you're cleaning this weekend, finally visiting family or maybe you're me and plan to spend a moment or two on the front porch chatting with neighbors and basking in the sun. Either way, whether to enjoy now or save for later, we have some fun and easy cocktails to share with you.  Frozen strawberry margaritas?🍓Yes, please. Country Thyme Lemonade? Sold! 🍋 See the full list of recipes here. Follow The American South: Stay up-to-date on interesting stories from the South on Instagram   FOLLOW US Problem viewing email? View in browser Unsubscribe • Manage Newsletters • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights • Privacy Notice • Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy • Feedback © 2021 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22102

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