There seems to be a lot of people who are not from the South, but think they know everything there is to know about being Southern. I’ve blogged on this topic before I know, and I guess it’s because I’m passionate about it. But it’s also because I continue to see common misconceptions in the media regarding the area I love.
I’ll be honest with you. I’m not Southern by birth. I was born in San Diego, California, and my mom and I initially planned to go back to the West Coast after what we hoped to be a brief time in Mississippi with our family. It didn’t work out that way, and I’m honestly glad.
We fell in love with the place, the people, and the relaxed way of life. We became Southerners at first by geographical location, but then it became a part of us. The land soaked into our blood streams and we couldn’t fathom leaving.
But I did leave. For a decade I traveled around the world, exploring different cultures, and becoming a part of a different way of life than the one I was used to in the South.
I enjoyed my time living up North, but I was honestly always troubled by the varying and plentiful false assumptions concerning my Southern heritage. Here’s some of the misconceptions I personally have dealt with over the years.
1. The Ignorant Southerner. People from the South are stupid. I’m not saying it! This is what I heard. Seriously. When presented with a scholastic award in the military the officer was amazed when he found out I was from the South. He actually said, “I didn’t know they made smart people in Mississippi!”
I’m laying this one to rest people. Southerners are intelligent, more so than you could ever imagine. We just don’t brag about it. We’re usually too busy listening to the know-it-alls making an ass of themselves.
2. The Racist Southerner. A lot of people I met while living up North based their knowledge on Southerners off movies like Mississippi Burning. Sigh.
It grieves me that my state has a history of slavery. It does. But my state’s history does not define who I am as a person. Nor does it define hundreds of thousands of my fellow Mississippians.
Not all Southerners are racist, just as not all Northerners are rude. I personally get to know someone before assuming the worst. If I went off societal assumptions I would never have made the dozens of great Northern friends I have.
3. The Hunting Southerner. I can’t tell you how many jokes I received about using the grocery store. “You have any critters in your freezer?”
Not all Southerners hunt, and even if we do, we also buy food from stores. Some Southerners are farmers, and some do hunt and fish for food, but I never have. Neither does my husband. Stop grouping people in a box. It’s ignorant.
4. The Football Fan Southerner. I’ll probably get some flack from many of my friends for this one, but here it goes. I don’t like college football. Seriously, I don’t care a thing about it. I can’t tell you how many people I met up North that were shocked by this fact.
Not every Southerner has a Roll Tide or Rebels bumper sticker. We’re not all fanatical football fans who live, breathe, and sleep our Alma Mater. Plenty of good folks do, but don’t assume I’ll know season statistics if you ask.
5. The Southern Cook. Every Southern woman is not Paula Dean. Folks just couldn’t believe I had never made collard greens or cornbread.
My mom raised me to cook a wide array of ethnic foods, and I just didn’t know how to cook “soul food.” Didn’t have a clue. While I’m learning now, it’s because I want to, not because I’m Southern and that’s what we do. I still have no idea how to can, make hog jowl, or a pie crust from scratch. Although I’m certain I’m intelligent enough to learn if I was so inclined.
6. The Inbred Southerner. Oh my gosh! My husband is not my cousin. In fact I’ve never even dated my cousin. There was that one time in junior high that a boy asked me to the homecoming dance and my pawpaw said, “You know that’s your cousin, right?” So guess what? I didn’t go.
All Southerners are not related, and while I do have a lot of kinfolk, I’ve never kissed a single one inappropriately.
7. The Hypocritical Southerner. Southern Christians have a bad reputation, and I’ll go so far as to admit that is probably our own fault. But… Not all Southerners are judgmental, nor hypocritical of people who don’t believe like we do.
Don’t let one bad apple ruin the barrel. There are good, kind Christians in the South who will love you as a brother/sister no matter your lifestyle or beliefs. Trust me. I’m one of them. Not being proud. Just being honest.
8. The Rich/Poor Southerner. What do I mean by this? I’m talking about the crazy way I see Southerners depicted. Any film you see about someone from the South will show them in one of two economic situations. They either live in a huge, sprawling plantation, or they’re dirt poor in a decrepit trailer park.
My parents didn’t own a mansion, but we also didn’t live in a shack. The median income of Mississippi might surprise you. To all the Hollywood producers I say, “Come visit before you assume how we live.”
9. The Close-minded Southerner. I experienced this misconception a lot. I’m not “set in my ways,” and I am open to trying something new. Yes, I’ll try that sushi and escargot. It’s delicious. Thank you. A Southern woman can’t survive on fried chicken alone.
I lived all around the country for a decade because I did want to try something different. I was open-minded to a different way of life than the one I had always known. I moved back because I realized what I prefer. That doesn’t make me close-minded. It makes me a woman who knows what she wants out of life.
10. The Funny-talking Southerner. You want to know my least favorite thing about living up North? The comments on my accent. “You talk funny! Where are you from?!”
They never considered how “funny” their accent sounded to me. When I encounter someone with a different accent than my own I never make a quick, inconsiderate comment because I know how hurtful it can be. Southerners don’t talk funny. They talk Southern.
I hope this list has enlightened you, and I wish it could lay to rest the misconceptions that are readily accepted in movies and the media. Southerners are intelligent, kind, open-minded people who are tolerant of the differences in others. If you’ve met someone from the South who contradicts that then I apologize. All I can say is that you haven’t met me. And all I can ask is you don’t assume you know me until you have.
Amy says
I enjoyed reading this, I chuckled all the way through. 🙂
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thanks so much. 🙂
Leslie says
Love! You always make me laugh and think!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thanks so much!
Ashley says
Living in Massachusetts, I hear or live this every day. The bigoted/racist southern is the one that I hate. I can deal with the others and just laugh, but that one is frustrating.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
I agree. Racists are extremely frustrating. Interesting enough I encountered more racism during my time in Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C., which would lead one to believe that racism exists country wide, not just in the South. It’s devastating that such an evil is so widespread. Thanks for commenting.
Bernard says
When I visited Columbia SC and Virginia this summer I observed most people are actually less racist than in my home town of Philadelphia and the white and black people I observed were very friendly towards each other and inclusive of one another the entire time I was there. Huge difference from Philly and suburban Philly which is mostly still segregated
Brooke Carter says
LOVE IT!!! All of them are so true!
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thank you so much!
mona scarbrough says
As a southerner now living in Idaho, thank you. I’ve heard each of these, one lady asking me if we kept toilet paper in our outhouse. It is funny, usually, but like you said, enough of the stereotypes.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Thanks for commenting!
Derick says
Southerners are intelligent? Please explain the buy bull and slavery than.
brieann.rn@gmail.com says
Then Derick. It’s “then.” Point made.