A Road Trip through the South

Naturally, when I've ever thought about planning a road trip, I've always assumed it would be northbound; to New York City or Boston. I'd never considered exploring the South and all of its charm, especially during this season, when the bluebonnets are blooming and the roads are lined with a cascade of beautiful flowers. Although there will be many interesting stops along the way to Jackson, Mississippi, the roads between each city will have a lot to show as well. 

Native of Jackson, Mississippi, Richard Wright describes his journey away from the South in a few short lines:
“I was leaving the South
to fling myself into the unknown . . .
I was taking a part of the South
to transplant in alien soil,
to see if it could grow differently,
if it could drink of new and cool rains,
bend in strange winds,
respond to the warmth of other suns
and, perhaps, to bloom”
― Richard Wright 
My goal through this journey is to venture deeper into the South and to learn from a world I'd taken for granted and hadn't placed much importance in exploring. Many of the characters throughout this semester were only able to flourish and grow when they looked beyond their immediate surroundings and accepted change. The South was able to thrive by embracing the Modern Era, along with their years of tradition and rich culture. I've always liked old looking shops and restaurants without realizing how much history and culture can be found within those establishments. Along this trip to Jackson I plan to stop by places that haven't been completely commercialized and have an interesting story to share.