Scalawag is an American nonprofit digital magazine focused on Southern politics and culture. It was founded in 2015 and is based in Durham, North Carolina.
Overview
Scalawag is a left-wing, progressive media outlet that targets Southern audiences and documents a range of issues through what it describes as "movement journalism." The magazine's stated mission is to work in solidarity with oppressed communities in the South to disrupt and shift narratives regarding power and wealth distribution, pursuing what it calls "a more liberated South."
History
Scalawag was founded in 2015 in Durham, North Carolina, by co-founders Evan Walker-Wells and Sarah Bufkin. The magazine was launched through a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $31,000. It began primarily with volunteer labor and approximately 250 freelance writers and photographers.
In 2018, the organization shifted to a membership model and began offering events in order to become financially sustainable. In 2020, the magazine announced it had made the financial decision to end its print operations, transitioning to a fully digital format.
Cierra Hinton has served as executive director since fall 2018. Sherronda J. Brown became the magazine's editor-in-chief in March 2023. In 2022, the organization went on a 30-day hiatus, providing paid leave for its entire staff.
Content and Recognition
Scalawag publishes content across categories including politics, society, culture, and economics, with a focus on the American South. Its work has been cited in journals, books, and news outlets including Longreads, PEN America, Yes!, AJ+, and The New York Times.
Name Origin
The magazine's name derives from the historical term "scalawag," which was a pejorative label used in the United States during the Reconstruction era to refer to white Southerners who supported Reconstruction policies and efforts after the American Civil War. The magazine's adoption of the term reflects its focus on reinterpreting and challenging conventional narratives about the South.
