Why are people prejudiced against southern Americans?

Question

It seems that the same American people that are so anti-racist and politically correct feel that it is quite ok to be bigoted and use stereotypes toward white southern Americans while they would never dream of thinking it was OK to behave this way toward anyone else.

I realize that there are so many stereotypes associated with southerners but does that make it true and ok? Aren't non-southen Americans smart enough to look beyond the television influence. I have traveled a lot and in all actuality, I have seen just as many rural, poor, uneducated, racist, and ugly people in small town America all over the country as I have in the south. There is just as many isolated rural small towns and farm lands in states like Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Idaho, New York (and many other states), as there is in the south. The people there seem just as rednecky, hillbilly, toothless, uneducated, unrefined, and less worldly as they do in any remote area of the south. So what's the difference?

Answer 1

I totally agree with you, it is not right.

I'm from New York, but I have been down South before. I'll admit, going down, I did expect all the stereotypes, but after being there (Texas) I realize that is all that those are; stereotypes. I liked the South alot, the people were cool, and San Antonio was fun (plus the women were pretty).

I really feel that the media is the biggest spreader of the Southern stereotype, especially shows like "Blue Collar Comedy Hour," and all the "Redneck" related humor.

I think the only show on t.v. that does the South any justice is "King of the Hill," and its a cartoon.

Answer 2

I was born and raised in Arkansas. After four years in the navy I moved to Iowa to be near a lady I had met. I found most Iowans to be basically polite in a slightly snobbish way. I constantly felt as if I was thought of as inferior. Many, not all, of the people a meet in those four years seem to think they were a little better than me because I didn't grow up on the farm. Of the many people I met in those four years I can count on one hand the number of people that I enjoyed being around. I don't get it. Most were very educated in very specific areas, like farming, but clueless in others, like foreign affairs. I fell I'm of average or better intelligence and can contribute to most conversations at some level. But, since I couldn't quote the latest price of a bushel of corn, anything else I might say must have been worthless. All in all, Iowa was a bad experience.
To put things in perspective. I felt like an African-American would have felt going into an all white church in the early 70's in the south. On the surface people smiled and said "hello", with a slight tinge of loathing in their eyes.
Between that and the God awful winters, I had to head home.

Answer 3

I'm not particularly fond of rednecks but I don't believe that all southerners are rednecks either. It's just like Jeff Foxworthy said, rednecks are EVERYWHERE.... they're not just confined to the south. Hell, there's even rednecks in Canada. Also, I have faced some of the same stereotyping that you speak of. I am from Delaware and many New Englanders consider us a southern state too, even though we are technically the mid-atlantic. Southern Delaware is very rural, but where I live in northern Delaware, it is a crack-riddled web of urban sprawl. I'd actually prefer to live downstate!!!

Answer 4

I am not prejudiced against southern Americans, but I do avoid them for a very simple reason. English is actually my third language. I am quite skilled with it's usage. However, I can not understand the Southern American dialect! I cannot understand a word that comes out of their mouths most of the time and stare at them while I try to figure out *what* language they are speaking. Then it hits me - that's a 'Southern drawl'. It isn't their fault any more than my accent is my fault. It's just the way we happen to talk. I hate the embarassment that comes with having to ask someone to repeat themselves constantly or to speak more slowly.

I also agree that the confederate flag may have something to do with some people's perceptions. Everyone in my family with US citizenship got it the same way. We joined the US military. I look at the confederate flag not as an American flag, but as the flag of an enemy of the United States. If the South had won the war, they would not be Americans. They would be a separate nation. I am personally deeply offended that ANYONE would accept that flag being flown on US soil and then expect the rest of us to respect it. I certainly don't fly a Swedish flag in front of my house and we've never been at war with Sweden. AND, Sweden is my homeland.

Take down the confederate flag, speak more clearly and then maybe we can be buddies. But until then, I shall respectfully stay in my corner over here, thanks.

~Morg~
Southern food is yummy, by the way!

Answer 5

I live in Arkansas, and I know exactly what you mean. I think that it largely has to do with the Civil War, our not-so-spotless record with civil rights during the 50s and 60s, and media stereotypes. No offense if you own a Stars and Bars, but I don't exactly think that the Southerners who wave the Confederate flag are doing us any favors!

Answer 6

It's the media. They tend to portray Southerners as a bunch of unsophisticated bigots. The media always promotes hatred and dissension. Look that their portrayal of Christians. And don't forget Muslims.

The media in this country run interference for the politicians. They need to create enemies. That gives them the ability to control us.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

funny we disk the white man of the south but not all men of the south .that is worse as it shows the raciest attitude of the white man thinking it JUST NORMAL FOR A BLACK TO ACT SOUTHERN/ SLOW AND DUMB .but when a white man Acts this why we disk him .heel all southern folks hate California to them we ant nothing but f-ags.so understand people are slower down south i for one look forward to some day getting to the south to feel the difference of life style and pace of everyday life .the north won over the south but they are stile a tough bunch of people .it is easy to talk sh-it they do it we do it so it gets done right or wrong that is the why it is in the hood

Answer 9

Hypocrisy.The South was right, you know.All they wanted was to be left alone by the federal government.