38th Annual MSSA Conference

Sociology from the South:

Assessing the Past, Examining the Present

and Forecasting the Future of Southern Sociology

 November 7-10, 2012 - Mobile, Alabama

Program Chair:  Dr. Earl Wright, II   University of Cincinnati
(earl.wright@uc.edu) 

Conference Site:  Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel

64 South Water St.
Mobil, Alabama  36602
251-438-4000

($145/night)

CALL FOR PAPERS 

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

“As the known facts now stand, it is apparent that sociology was first accepted by the smaller institutions of the South and by the Negro colleges”

L. L. Bernard (1948)

Although the influence of institutions including Yale, Columbia, Kansas and Chicago is often cited as central to the establishment of the discipline in the Unites States, historical documents indicate that Southern institutions and historically Black institutions are the places where the discipline was first embraced in America.  It is plausible that the South’s interest in offering scientific study of the “Negro problem” and in studying the transition from rural to urban life contributed to its earlier institutionalization than its geographic counterparts.  The result of the South’s embrace was the establishment of influential programs of sociological study like those led by W. E. B. Du Bois at Atlanta University, Howard W. Odum at the University of North Carolina and Charles S. Johnson at Fisk University.  The influence of scholarship conducted by southerners and/or grounded in the experiences of American southerners continues today through the works of countless scholars.  It is within this tradition of southern sociology that we welcome persons to organize paper sessions and/or volunteer to serve as discussants/presiders for the 2012 Mid-South Sociological Association conference.  We especially welcome sessions focusing on the impact of the southern region on the development of the discipline, contemporary examinations of social problems impacting this region and inquiries forecasting the future of the American South given demographic changes that have been forecasted over the past decade.  Sessions examining traditional substantive topical areas are also encouraged and welcomed.

All requests must be made on the submission form to be considered. The form should be 1) completed; 2) saved; and 3) emailed as an attachment directly to the session organizer. If you are unable to complete the submission form via this process contact the session organizer to obtain a fax number or postal address to be used as an alternative submission method.

The list of session organizers and contact information 
is in the 2012 Call for Papers.

 2012 Presenter Submission Form 

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL Presenters, Presiders, Discussants, and Session Organizers must be current members of MSSA and must pre-register for the conference by September 15, 2012.  Individuals not pre-registered for the conference by this date will not have their name or presentation information included in the final program.