I recently made a trip back home to Memphis, with pit stops in Sikeston, MO to see my maternal grandparents and Potts Camp, MS to visit my daddy’s side of the family.  When I travel, I think a lot about the South, what it was, what it is, where it’s headed.  But it seems like there there isn’t always a consensus about what is Southern and what isn’t.  My grandparents in Sikeston, for example, have a few Southern tendencies, but don’t really consider themselves Southern, but both of their children do/did.  

Momma moved to Memphis in 1976 to attend nursing school and most definitely has always considered herself a Southern woman.  Her brother stayed in the Bootheel, but he and his kids all consider themselves Southern.  And my mother and I have always accepted that as fact.  After all, Southeast MO is a cultural transition area where the South meets the Midwest.  That part of the sate often even pronounces their homeland as “Missourah” instead of the traditional “Missouree,” definitely a Southern speech pattern. 

My grandparents tell me almost every time I see them that I “don’t sound like [I’m] from Memphis.”  It used to somewhat offend me, but I’ve realized why they think this way: I speak quickly.  The idea that all Southerners speak slowly is not only antiquated, it’s very inaccurate.  Sure, there are plenty of Southerners that still speak like that, but it’s not really the norm anymore.  So many of us are from large cities and speaking slowly just doesn’t generally cut it there.  Doesn’t mean we’ve lost our accent or manners, just that we have just as much to say, but less time to do so.  

But Southern culture isn’t one giant homogenous thing.  We share common elements, the fact that we drawl our words, but even the way we do that varies.  Carolina Lowcountry isn’t West Tennessee cotton culture.  So, I decided to make this map.  I know that even this is somewhat of a generalization, but feel like it’s pretty accurate.  I’m always open to suggestions if anyone has them.  And obviously these different areas aren’t exclusive; cultures bleed and blend.  Southern Appalachia is most definitely Southern, but it’s different than central Georgia’s culture. Also, the Deep South is generally listed as MS, AL, and GA. But Southeast AR, North LA and SC definitely constitute Deep South as well.  I’ve included the very Southwest corner of TN, namely Memphis and up to around the Covington, TN area.  The reason for this is that we are part of the Mississippi River Delta and Delta culture is most definitely Deep South. 

Do note “New South” doesn’t strictly denote the idea that these areas haven’t always been considered the South, rather that they are now the outermost border of what is thought of as the South by most people today.

Our culture constantly grows, shifts, and evolves, yet maintains our Southern charms and sensibilities.  The South is our home and here’s to keeping it that way! 

Texas

The Lone Star State

bananneliese:

Hell Yeah, Damn Right!

(via beingdecided)