Folklorist Bill Ferris Finds The True South

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"Voices of Mississippi" chronicles the artists and musicians of Mississipppi, as recorded by Bill Ferris.

"Southern" has a variety of meanings in the personal and popular imagination. It's a term that evokes history, food and musical traditions and ways of speaking. They often get lumped together, especially by those who don't know the South.On Second Thought host Virginia Prescott speaks with Bill Ferris.

Few people have done more to thoroughly understand Southern identity than Bill Ferris. For the last half century, the folklorist has used photographs, field recordings and film to document the true character of the South.

Atlanta-based Dust-to-Digital is out with a collection of Ferris's interviews, films and songs. He joined us from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he's associate director of the Center for the Study of the American South.