Issues and Challenges of the American Rural South provides students with carefully selected readings that help them understand the unique social problems faced by inhabitants of the southern region of the United States.

Part I of the text features readings related to poverty issues in the South and their impact on marginalized individuals and groups. Part II examines health disparities and inequalities, including challenges faced by HIV-positive African Americans; education, self-rated health status, food insecurity, and depression among single mothers; and smoking behavior and cessation among rural and urban residents.

Parts III and IV explore the long-lasting impact of Hurricane Katrina and subsequent community development efforts. Part V addresses education issues including essential competencies and skills, post-university income attainment, and agriculturally related jobs.

The second edition features nine new readings about the causes of enduring poverty in Alabama, food insecurity, smoking cessation and behaviors, local economic development efforts, rural community development, and mental health for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Issues and Challenges of the American Rural South is well suited for upper-division and graduate-level courses in rural sociology, race relations, and social problems and issues.

Andrew A. Zekeri earned his Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Dr. Zekeri is a professor of sociology and graduate faculty member in the Department of Psychology and Sociology at Tuskegee University, where his current research interests include community economic development strategies, rural poverty, conspiracy theories about HIV/AIDS among HIV-positive patients, and food insecurity. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles, with work appearing in Psychological Reports and the Journal of Rural Social Sciences. Dr. Zekeri is currently working with some of his colleagues to develop a community-based epidemiological research of health model in order to study HIV/AIDS in the Black Belt counties of Alabama.