In the 1730s, African-influenced tidal rice cultivation techniques were introduced in the Carolina Colonies, significantly boosting rice production in the lowlands. These methods utilized the natural tidal flows to irrigate crops, leading to increased yields and the establishment of rice as a staple crop. This agricultural innovation had lasting economic impacts, shaping the region's economy and labor systems.

Rice cultivation techniques in the Carolina Colonies in 1730 shaped Southern literary traditions, influencing poets to explore themes of labor, landscape, and cultural hybridity. Works by poets like Paul Laurence Dunbar reflect the complexities of Southern identity and agricultural life.