A few months ago, I posted an article titled "7 Answers To Questions That Northerners Have For Southerners." As a born-and-raised Southerner currently surrounded by Northerners in my college, I felt it was necessary to explain our ways and culture and why we do certain things. I answered questions such as "Why do you need bread and milk when it snows?" or "Do you own shoes?"
Now, it is time for an updated set of questions:
1. You have a southern accent, so you must be stupid... right?
Excuse me honey buns, my accent does not equal the level of my intelligence. This is the fault of the media making it seem that anyone with a southern accent is stupid or slow but that is far from the truth. 14 US presidents have been born in the south, plenty of journalists, scientists, actors, and athletes have all been from the south and yet no one judges them on their accent and the "supposed" correlation to intelligence... so why judge me?
2. Why are you guys so nice?
Southern hospitality is a huge thing down here and it is taught from a young age. Always respect your elders, say grace, hold the door open for people behind you, always say thank you if someone does something kind for you. The simple things but everyone is so surprised when I show hospitality to them. We treat people how we want to be treated and we practice what we preach. I'm not saying that Northerners aren't nice, I have met some of the nicest people from the North and I have met some assholes from the South. But in my experience, the majority of Southern raised people will always show hospitality to anyone that does good by them...
3. What's the deal with football?
What? Football in the south is its own thing. It's almost a religion. The south lives Friday Night Lights every day. Both high school and college football is a southern staple You leave church in the morning and get home and watch football later that night. It brings people together and almost lets people forget the problems on the week and just worry whether or not their team is going to win. The South, specifically, North Carolina is home to one of the biggest college football rivalries; UNC Chapel Hill and Duke Univerisity, The Tar Heels vs Devils. Two shades of blue represent this state and you have to pick. #DukeBlueDevils <3
4. What is "cokes"?
Lord. So we drink the soda brand Coca-Cola or Coke. But we just call every drink the Coke makes "cokes". Sprite, Fanta, Dr. Pepper, Diet Coke, Coke, etc are all "cokes". It's just easier to say "We're all drink cokes tonight" instead of saying "Someone is drinking Sprite, two people are drinking Fanta, etc etc".
5. Why do you look up to Scarlett O'Hara?
Just because I love Gone with the Wind and I love Scarlett O'Hara does not mean I look up to here. I just love her attitude, her style, and her independence. She is the go to description of a southern belle. Scarlett constantly tries to run after one man... a married man but then realizes last minute that she never truly loved him. She is vain, self-centered, and spoiled in the beginning of the film. But I can appreciate her character development through the book and movie as she grows up into someone who is willing to do anything to help her family out. Then after the war, she goes back to her old self. But I mean... her style is amazing, so what's not to love?
And there we go. My updated list of new questions I have been asked as a Southerner.
Being Southern is a great thing and I wouldn't change it for the world. Sure we get a bad rap but there is so much more to the South than what people see. I get asked questions all the time by people who aren't from here or may not understand why we do certain things and I love to answer them. Sure some of the questions make me want to grab these people by the shoulders and shake them and yell "WHY DO YOU ASK THAT?!?!" but as a southern belle, I hold it together and answer the question with the grace and civility the lord gave me.
