Spring Break

During Spring Break, I went to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, which happens to be where I live. Though Florida is the Southern-most state of the Continental United States, it is not very "southern," per se. It is very likely to drive through a neighborhood where prices for houses don't drop below $1 million dollars, and according to stereotypes the South is not very wealthy. I have personally never seen to much money at display as I have seen it in South Florida-- especially South Beach. As we drove around, the only cars seen were Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Rolls Royce, Porches, and Cadillacs at the very least. Trucks were a rare sighting... but isn't the South supposed to have an enormous amounts of trucks, especially Chevrolets? Well, apparently not in Florida. Then again, I don't believe Florida can actually be considered a "Southern" state, considering it wasn't even part of the Confederacy. Also consider that Southern traditions are mocked in Florida... One most certainly does not go around saying "ya'll" or displaying a Confederate flag, and those that do become a subject of ridicule. I find it ironic that most people that mock these traditions are the wealthy ones, and these are the ones the true "Southerners" dislike as well. It's interesting how the world works...

Esta Vida

Because I grew up in two different places, music has impacted my life in many different ways. When I lived in Colombia, all the music I listened to was in Spanish--salsa, merengue, vallenato, cumbia. The beat is very distinct for each type and rhythm flows through your entire body. I understood the lyrics, related to them, and absolutely love them. However, American music is completely different from latin music. I can't quite relate to blue, or jazz; much less hard rock, considering it seemed chaotic the first time I heard it. As time passed, I began to learn English a lot better, and thus was able to understand, but not exactly relate to American music. Today, I'm able to relate to both Hispanic and American music, though in very different levels. Whenever frustrations sets in, Hispanic music can usually help me regain my senses; perhaps because most frustration relates to a certain degree of "homesickness." Needless to say, listening to American music at these times wouldn't exactly be the wisest choice.
One of my favorite songs, if not my favorite song, is called "Esta Vida," which means "this life." Overall, it pretty much takes you in a journey through your life, reminding you that times may get hard, but in the end everything is bound to work out wonderfully. Coming to Tech, I experienced things I never thought I would. At Tech, a school that is predominantly science based, religion might seem to be unimportant. But in a way, I was mistaken. A song in English called "Hold my Heart" reminds me a lot of the culture I was born into, and makes me question my values, opinions, and beliefs.

What Type of Music Speaks to You?

We have been discussing southern stereotypes over and over again every week. So I wanted to try something a little different. As I was writing my literary analysis paper on gospel music, I realized that every person has a certain genre that they can relate to the most. Whether you listen to music just for entertainment or whether you turn to music for guidance, everyone listens to music. What type of music do you listen to and what do you use music for? After identifying with your favorite genre, discuss your favorite musical artists who happen to be from the south and why you love them.
As you all know, my all time favorite musical artist is Beyonce. However, I have already written about her so I would have to say that my second favorite musical artist is Trey Songz. Trey Songz is a southern boy who was born and raised in Petersberg, Virginia. I love Trey Songz because his musical lyrics actually have meaning. He discusses the feelings that men go through while they are in intimate relationships with a woman. I like to listen to music that I can learn from or relate to. Because I am not a male, I tend to sometimes not know how men feel in certain situations and he definitely speaks on it through his lyrics. To me, music is an outlet when I need to get away from the world. Every time I am stressed or I am feeling down, I turn to music to lift up my spirits. Rhythm and Blues (R&B) is my favorite genre because it focuses more on the lyrical content of the artist rather than the fast paced beat in the background.

Below is a video of Trey Songz at the Grammy Awards. He discusses how he has matured into a young man and with maturity comes knowledge. He uses this "mature knowledge" in his lyrics of his latest songs.

Southern City Without Any Open Fields?

For spring break, 20 of my friends and I rented a house in Kissimmee, Florida for a week. When I first heard that we were staying in Kissimmee, my first thought was that we were going to be staying in the middle of nowhere because it sounded like a random city. But I was shocked when we arrived. Kissimmee is the perfect vacation spot when you are in need of a break. They have so much to offer...amusement parks, miniature golfing, restaurants, clubs and much more. As I have said in my other blogs, northerners always think that the South is full of just random open fields. Kissimmee definitely proves all stereotypes wrong as soon as you drive past the first sign that welcomes you to their city. If you ever get the chance, please visit Kissimmee, Florida. It is a very relaxing place to go visit when you need a break from life.

The Dean Mansion

I like the idea of looking at massive, out-of-place buildings - so here's another!

This mansion is considered a wonder of the modern mansions around the world. While driving around on spring break, near my hometown of Norcross, GA, my family and I passed this monstrosity. To the left and right there are normal homes, maybe $400,000 a piece, where this home runs for $30,000,000! With the 60+ acres of land the house takes up 32,000 square feet. What happened to the rest of the land? There is a private 18-hole golf course in the back yard. This, I consider, to be out of place in the South, or at least compared to the surrounding ten+ miles of housing. If you have the money to live like a king, why not do it I suppose? Living in the European countryside in the suburbs of Atlanta, the best get away.

Spring Break

Where is this place you may ask? Maybe somewhere in Europe? France? Even maybe California? No, this is a picture of Chateau Elan, which is in North Atlanta. I drove by this resort on my way back from Spring Break, and I found the idea of it quite interesting. Usually we think of places in the South trying to portray and even imitate the "Southern Image", but Chateau Elan is trying to imitate something you would find in the French Countryside. For this week's blog post, try to think of something you observed over spring break that refutes a Southern stereotype. If you can't think of anything from your spring break, try to think of another instance or find some fact online that goes against a stereotype we have discussed in class. I hope everyone had a great spring break and is ready to end the semester off on a good note!

Slavery to Freedom? Agriculture to Modern Technology?

When I think about whether or not there was a transition from the Old South to the New South, the first thing that comes to my mind is slavery. How can someone say that there has not been a transition? Years ago in the South, slavery was the main topic of discussion between whites and blacks. You could go to any state in the south and find numerous white owners with african-american slaves. On the other hand, in the New South there are black people who are the boss' of white people and many other races. Race is not as much of an issue now that everyone is supposedly "equal."
The Old South has transitioned from agriculture to modern technology. Southerners have grown from growing crops and working in the fields, to now working as engineers and scientists. Yes, some southern states still have large open fields, but the majority of the South is now full of tall buildings full of technology. This proves that the stereotype that all southerners are country people working in fields and growing crops is mostly false.
Overall, I believe that their is a clear distinction between the Old South and the New South. Of course there will be some things that will never change but overall there has been a major change in southern history.

From picking cotton to picking people's brains: the transition of Southern economic focus

When Isabella asked us if there really was a difference between the "Old South" and the "New South", I started thinking. There are some aspects of both stereotypical views of the South that have not changed, but there are many that have. Race has been a big part of the transition from old to new, and equal rights are often perceived to be a part of the new, though I doubt this assumption at times. Race rights changes have seemed to be the identifier of any reincarnation of the South in history books, but the hate and inequalities still linger not just in the South, but in much of the United States. The racism is not as blatant as it was in the "Old South", but it still exists. In this way, I think there is not a difference between the "Old South" and the "New South", but let me describe a transition that I mark as an identifier of a change.

Growing up in North Carolina, much of my early education encompassed NC history. Teachers loved to tell stories about the Wright Brothers, Cape Hatteras, and the Lost Colony, but the more interesting stories looking back on those years were the lessons on NC's change in its participation in the US and world economy. In the times considered the "Old South", NC, like much of the South, based its economy on agriculture (specifically the production of cotton and tobacco). When the South lost the Civil War, these massive plantations that were the backbone of the southern economy were failing because of the lack of manpower due to white men that died in the war as well as the liquidation of free slave labor. The South was in shambles, but it had to rebuild. Today, the backbone of the economy in the "New South" has drastically changed because it has had to change. The Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), is home to excellent intellectual environments including, but not limited to, Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and NC State. In the center of the Triangle, huge contributors to the US and NC economy are based in Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the US. RTP companies focus on high-tech research and development, and the area makes strides in innovation for the entire technology market. The entire Southern image has not completely changed because of terms like "Old South" and "New South", but in certain aspects of the southern culture in economy, there are drastic differences between old and new.

Throughout the scope of the class, we've discussed certain aspects of the Old South vs. the New South. When I walked into Dr.Hoefer's ENG1102 class and found out we were going to be studying the South for the entire semester, I wondered how that could ever be possible. Now I realize that one semester is certainly not enough. At the beginning, he emphasized the distinction between the two South's--plantations vs. skyscrapers, slavery vs. freedom. As the class progressed, each person began to develop his/her own opinion of the South. Are the stereotypes accurate, or are they complete fallacies? Most importantly, was there ever a transition from the Old South to the New South?
In my personal opinion, most of the negative Southern stereotypes are a little overrated--yes, people do drive pick-up trucks, and yes there are plantations; but there are Sedans, and buildings, and civilized people. Regarding the transition, I'm not too sure there ever was one... Up until we read Bastard out of Carolina, the transition seemed blatant. Before white trash was looked down upon, violence was prevalent, and discrimination was obvious. However, after reading this book, the so-called "New South" seems to have the same problems, though at a reduced scale. Perhaps the magnitude of the problem is still the same, but the attention and publicity it receives is kept at an optimal "low."

I was born in Cali, Colombia--South America. So technically speaking, I am from the South, just not from the American South. When I moved to Florida back in '99, my classmates mentioned how they had seen a truck with a Confederate flag as the drove to school. But it wasn't simply them mentioning something they had seen--their words seem to have some sort of scorn, disrespect maybe, and even mock. They then went on to say that these people were "Southerners," statement which confused me quite a bit. Confederate flag? What in the world is that? If I am from the South, how come I had no idea what that was? Hmm...interesting. As the conversation progressed, one of my classmates asked me if I knew what a 'redneck' was. Surely, my eyes gave away the confusion I was in! Redneck? Huh? Oh goodness, was I in for quite a ride! They explained to me that these are people who live in the South--the American South, they added for clarification. And these people did not like Hispanics. Say what? They don't like Hispanics? So I guess that means they don't like me, but they don't even know me?! That sounded awfully silly... As I got older, I didn't really have much contact with Southern culture, much less with Southerners. A country accent is mocked and ridiculed in South Florida, and country music--God forbid someone ever hears you listening to that. Then I decided to come to Tech... well, dang, Tech is in Georgia... and Georgia, that's as Southern as you can get! I guess what I'm trying to say is that when I came here a couple months there was a certain fear that people weren't going to accept me because of where I was born. Southern hospitality was something I was extremely unfamiliar with, as well as Southern home cooking. Ironically enough, the first friend (and I mean friend, not acquaintance) I made here was born in Birmingham, Alabama-- I would dare say that's pretty Southern. She is one of the sweetest people I know--welcoming, loving, accepting. She didn't stereotype me by my nationality, she actually got to know me! All in all, the ideas I had of the South were all pretty flawed, and I'm ever so glad that's the case!

My Personal Experience

Living in the South for the eight months that I have been here has definitely supported my vision of what I thought the South was like. I have been living in Baltimore for the 18 years that I have been living so I have experienced the complete opposite of the everyday lifestyle of a southerner. Back at home, the majority of the people have attitudes and are always rude. When you go to a fast food restaurant in Baltimore, the workers do not have any manners and act as if people are forcing them to work there. However, when I came to Atlanta, it was a complete change. Everyone here has manners and have such pleasant attitudes. I must admit that I have always expected anyone from the South to have the classic southern accent that you hear in the movies. Of course not everyone has the deep southern accent, but the majority of the Georgians that I have met at Georgia Tech have the sweet, country-style, ol' southern accent that I absolutely love. The only thing that the south has proven me wrong about is the amount of open land and cornfields that I expected them to have. Since I have been in Atlanta, I have yet to see any cornfields or huge, open land. The closest thing to the stereotypical "cornfields" I expected the south to have, is the woods that my friends and I cleaned up for community service (see picture). The area that we cleaned up was a large, open space of wildlife. However, we drove a few miles to get to it because the majority of Atlanta's land is taken by buildings, schools, etc. Overall, the South has definitely impressed me and have met all of my expectations of what it's like to be in the south.

From the Heart

We've been discussing how people, movies, restaurants, and whatever else we can think if, influences the South. But what do WE think about the South, on our own terms, in our own words? In things you've seen, things you've heard, things you've done, how has living in the South changed your view or backed up your previous opinions of the South?

Having lived in Georgia my whole life, I know it very well. In one of my two neighborhoods I have lived in throughout my life I can distinctly remember knowing at the LEAST, neighbors for twelve houses in each direction. There were obviously more spread out in each direction, but within my reign of movement at age 6, for example, twelve was a lot. At those houses I had friends, most of which I still know today, any one of the kids in our "group" could walk in the garage door (most of the time we didn't even know where the front door and doorbell were) and say hi to the family without knocking. Though I have visited many people in many different states and regions of our country, the South is without a doubt the most hospitable place I have ever seen. The freedoms we enjoy here are not found anywhere else; I love my home in the South.

The Waterboy

Adam Sandler plays a young man from a Louisiana bayou who has a mental disorder, though not too serious. Everyone in this movie captures the southern "accent." When they speak, the draw out their vowels, often making very peculiar shapes and expressions with their faces and mouths. Also, in this video clip, at the "southern cookout" the animals run wild in the yard, the family eats outside, and young Bobby Boucher falls at his mama's feet over anyone else. Most towns can jokingly say that they have a "village idiot," but in this movie, in this town, that title applies to half the population. Oh, and everyone centers their daily lives around football.

It is no wonder to me why people who do not live in the south have these wild and outrageous stereotypes running through their heads when someone mentions the South. Before my cousins moved down here from Chicago they sent me e-mails and text messaged me battering me with questions about what clothes they needed to buy, or if they needed to get used to new food; keep in mind this was when we were in about eighth grade. Even at that age, I knew they were being ridiculous. There is no difference in clothing, except we wear shorts more often to accommodate the climate. The food is the same, with a few added recipes or ingredients. We are not different becuase we live in the South, people need to learn not to believe everything they see on the big screen.

Run Forrest Run!

The first thing that comes to my mind when thinking about a movie that portrays what it is like to live in the South is Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump is about a young man from Alabama who tells the story about his life and how he meets a girl named Jenny who is there for him through thick and thin. The movie takes place in Savannah, Georgia and every character in the movie has the typical southern accent that you would expec
t to hear from someone born and raised in the South. Many of the characters also portray the "poor white trash" stereotype such as the bus driver in the clip posted below. All throughout the movie, the audience will notice that in all of scenes there are old country style houses and cornfields everywhere. Forrest and Jenny spend many of their days playing in the cornfields and climbing trees. The soundtrack of Forrest Gump also represented the South well. Of course, Sweet Home Alabama was chosen as one of the main soundtracks because it represented the country-style music that many southerners typically listen to.
Click on picture to see video.
If video does not work, click here.

The Dukes of Hazzard

One movie that really stands out to me as portraying the South in the typical Redneck stereotype is "The Dukes of Hazzard". The two main characters Bo and Luke help with their uncle's moonshine business while running from cops in their car named "General Lee". After Bo and Luke are evicted from their farm, they participate in the annual Hazzard Road Race Rally to try to get their farm back.

The rough synopsis itself is enough to establish a hillbilly stereotype usually associated with the South. The characters' accents, speech and all-around lifestyles are typical assumptions outsiders make of people from the South, and the movie helps fortify these stereotypes in some peoples' minds. Not all southerners (in fact very few southerners) live or act like this movie on an everyday basis. I personally don't know anyone who drives a souped-up racing car with "Dixie Land" as its horn, but as these stereotypes continue to be portrayed in movies, people will keep believing they could be true.

But I saw it in a movie...

When talking to people not from the South, you sometimes run across certain ones who always ask about common stereotypes in the South. For example, when traveling out of state I have had many different people, upon hearing where I am from, ask me if I hunted, or if I rode ATVs a lot. Most are shocked when they find out that not only do I not do most of these things, but that I also don’t drive a jacked up truck. After this happening many times I began to think, “What would cause them to believe this is how southerners live?” and came to the conclusion that one of the biggest things that affect how others view people from the south is how we are portrayed in movies. People who haven’t had the opportunity to visit the South often only have the media and movies to show them “what southerners are.”
So for this blog topic, find one movie that you feel would cause people from other parts of the country to view the people of the south as the rednecks most movies make southerners out to be. One that stands out blatantly to me is the movie Sweet Home Alabama. This movie contains so many stereotypes and portrays almost all the men from the South as extreme rednecks and southerners in general as idiots.

Home cookin' buffet style

Back in the small town of Baxley, GA is a restaurant that is known all over the county for it great southern food and it's named Apple Dumpling. To clarify, when I say southern food I don’t mean just any type of food from the south I’m talking about the good ole home cooked type of meal. They have foods ranging from traditional fried chicken to a more common beef stew. The vegetables are cooked just the way the people in the south love too, fried to a brown crispy goodness. While you could argue that if one wanted these types of foods then just cook them at home, you have to take into consideration what makes this worth getting out of the house for, buffet style service. This characteristic makes this place more popular among the people of my home town because people can come in on a Sunday after church dressed in their best or they can waltz right on in on a weekday with grease on their t-shirt and jeans. It’s a place for all people who love to have as much good ole southern food as their heart’s desire to come, fellowship, and enjoy a delicious meal.

Angus Barn

One of the most famous restaurants in Raleigh, NC as well as most of the state is the Angus Barn. The Angus Barn is a fine dining experience close to the RDU International Airport that caters to all demographics. Its famous wine cellar is a popular place to host weddings and special occasions in Raleigh. The Angus Barn is best known for its excellent service and atmosphere. I've been to the Barn a few times for special occasions and loved it each time. The name is not deceiving you, the Angus Barn is in fact a barn that has been restored, remodeled, and expanded. The service is fantastic and the food is great (possibly the best baby back ribs I've ever had). The restaurant also gives back to the community through donations and sponsorships as well as hosting numerous charity walks/runs on weekends. I've been to a couple of these as well, and the Angus Barn gives a great atmosphere as well as some great free food. This restaurant truly represents what people think of when they picture the South through its hospitality, excellent service, and fabulous food.

White Caslte

As most of you know White Castle from the movie Herold and Kumar 2: White Castle, there is more to the restaurant than just the hilarity presented in the movie. First semester myself and some friends of mine went to White Castle on a thursday night because, well, we wanted to. Funny thing is that there are NO White Castle restaurants in the state of Georgia. we had to drive all the way to Tennessee to get our White Castle fix. The food is actually very much like, if not the exact same as, Krystal down here in Georgia. If you have never been to Krystal they sell the mini burgers that they are famous for. White Castle does this exact same thing. The menu items are actually almost the same in every aspect: sides, combos, meals, and desert options. Since White Castle wasn't good enough for the state of Georgia, in its entirety, we have a substitute, Krystal!

First, a Krystal commercial filmed in 1975 with Samuel L. Jackson as the main character:

Now, a White Castle commercial for a bit of contrast:

Aside from the comedic aspect of each of these videos, the food looks exactly the same! Welcome to the originality of the south...

Southern Restaurants

Although Florida is America's most Southern State, it is the farthest thing from Southern Culture one could possibly imagine. In fact, Southern traditions are mocked there! As was mentioned in the post above, cook outs and restaurants typical of a region are popular in the South; something that is rarely seen in South Florida. Most restaurants that are typical of a region in Florida are certainly not Southern, rather they are ethnic restaurants-- Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Peruvian, Venezuelan, and Colombian cuisine.
However, when I came to Georgia Tech and began running around the city, I saw one restaurant that particularly caught my attention. It's name is Mary Mac's. As we ran by it, the smell penetrated my nostrils, and instinctively I asked my friend what that type of food was served there. She retorted back with a smirk, almost as if the questioned I asked was self-explanatory. She explained to me that they served, I quote, "some of the delicious Southern Food I have ever tasted... and I'm from the South!" Then I wondered why I hadn't seen those in any other Southern States-- what about Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, and even Louisiana? I've traveled to those states, but never seen this famous "Mary Mac's." I have yet to visit, and hopefully experience Southern Hospitality, chicken and dumplings, gravy, biscuits, and casseroles in their true delight.

Southern Restaurants/Fast Food

As some of you may know, I am from Baltimore, MD. This weekend I went to go visit my family and to go pick up my car. As I was driving the LONG twelve hours back to Georgia Tech, I constantly noticed a restaurant entitled, "The Cookout." Back at home, we do not have any unique restaurants that are just strictly in Baltimore. However, as I was driving through North Carolina, I constantly kept running into "The Cookout" restaurants. I thought it was very interesting that southerners can simply go through the drive-thru and get fast food that they would usually eat at a cookout. Their menu includes barbeque, grilled chicken, chicken wings, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. I must admit that this fast food restaurant definitely goes along with the stereotypes that southerners LOVE to have cookouts all the time.

For those of you who are in the south, are there any restaurants, like The Cookout, that are unique only to your state or city? If not, do you know of any restaurants from another state that stick out to you. What were your experiences like at the unique restaurant that you visited?

Southern Hospitality

As I was looking for a music video for my analysis project, I came across Ludacris' music video, entitled "Southern Hospitality." The video captures so many different types of stereotypes of black people in the south. It starts off with a sign that says "Welcome to Atlanta" to verify that they are in the south. The video makes it seem as if black men are always riding around in cadillacs looking for "hoes." Every male in this picture is wearing baggy clothes with bandannas and chains. Females are definitely degraded in this video as well. They are all wearing short shorts, panty hoes, stripper heels and shirts with their cleavage out.
As a black woman, I can honestly say that I am sick of being looked upon as another one of the southern girls who wears tight, short clothing who is on the streets trying to make money by selling my body. I think videos like these are absolutely ridiculous because they categorize black people as a whole. In reality, there are successful black people in the south who are walking around in suits and owning multiple businesses. Stereotypes like these are degrading to African Americans living in the south and I hope that a change in the way we are portrayed in music videos is made in the near future.

You tube one of the best, if not the best, site for looking up any sort of video. Before reading this post, I never googled "Southern Videos," but as soon as I did, many interesting things popped up. For one, most videos included the word "redneck," and seemed to be located in a very country place. The grass was green, the houses were old, and people were 'round and about, strolling this way and that way. One particular video caught my attention, for it was titled "Funny Redneck Videos." When I clicked to watch it, I was not surprised that it was accompanied by Country music. I was surprised, however, that most of the "funny" things were actually quite silly. For example, one dealt with a truck (oh-so typical of the South), speeding and then flying high up in the air. I personally did not find that very "funny." Then there was one were something exploded and it seemed like fire was floating over a lake... not funny, per se, but perhaps amusing.
It seems like these videos, though trying to portray the South as a "funny" place, are actually ridiculing it and its people.

Ridiculous Southern images in Media

While looking for an artifact for the visual analysis project, I ran across some fairly out there clips portraying the South. Have you run across any of these clips too? If so, what were your views and opinions on the clip as a whole as well as its portrayal of the South?

For me, I ran across this "Saturday Night Live" clip called "Suel Forrester Southern Lawyer". The clip is pretty funny because it hits about every stereotype of a lawyer from the South that one scene can capture. While most lawyers are not like Chris Kattan's character, the portrayal provides a satirical insight to what other people may think of when they picture a true Southern Lawyer. I love SNL's portrayals of the South not because they are accurate, on the contrary, they are about as far from accurate as one can get, but because they add comedy and poke fun at stereotypes and assumptions people may take seriously.

'Redneck' is Simply Sunburn

Having been from the South, born here, raised here, no stereotype really bothers me because I know that they are, for the most part, false. Most people see the South through the narrow view of the magazine, Southern Living. My goal is not, by any means, to say that this magazine is incorrect or lying to the millions of readers, but it is to show the stereotypes the magazine is based on.

When Southern Living depicts the South as hospitable, warm, and welcoming they are about as far from wrong as one can be in any matter. Growing up in a family and community that is centered around these values has taught me how to live my life with care and conscience for my surroundings. As with most things, I feel that when describing something a visual comparison can help in the representation of a point. This video clip of The Waterboy shows everything that the South is NOT.

From minute mark 1:25 forward, the scene depicts the

home of Bobby Boucher and a fine "southern dining"

experience. The ridiculousness of this scene, I hope, will

completely contrast everything you know about the

South as most people know it today. Granted there are

select parts of the country that still may operate this

way, it is safe to say that the majority of the South

would be appalled by this representation of their home.

The South has grown out of stereotypes like the ones

shown in this movie, for the better!

Stereotypes?

Every region in the world has a certain stereotype. Some are positive and self-fulfilling, while some are hurtful, insulting, and not altogether true. Asians have a reputation of being smart and dedicated, Colombians as being drug-dealers, and whites as being supremacists. Of course, these are broad generalizations. I, myself, am Colombian.... but I'm not a drug dealer. That being said, certain stereotypes of Southerners exists. Some call them rednecks, others call them hospitable. Now, when you hear the word "Southerner" what is the first thing that comes to mind? Was there a specific instance in your life that makes this so?

When I hear the word "Southerner," the first thing that comes to mind is a Confederate flag and people criticizing Hispanics, frequently mentioning that Hispanics are "stealing" their jobs. When I moved to the States back in 1999, my first experience with Southerners was the first time my father tried to get a job. Back in Colombia he had his own Civil Engineering firm, but in the States he worked as a truck driver. Trucker, the company he applied to, rejected him-- not because he wasn't qualified but because he was Hispanic. One day, he overheard the managers of the company discussing how they believed Hispanics weren't worthy of jobs Americans, especially Southerners, should have. So I guess that should explain the first stereotype I think of whenever the South is mentioned. I feel it necessary to add that this is no longer the case. After living in the States for over 10 years, I've come to realize that the South and its people are hospitable, and not all of them have hurtful stereotypes of Hispanics.

3 Doors Down

While looking through my iTunes library, I realized I have very little music from southern artists. I'm not a big fan of most country, and I have a very limited taste in hip hop and rap music. In fact, the musicians I thought are from the South turn out not to be, indicating how the southern image can be promoted in some music genres and industries. But one group that I really like happens to be from Mississippi and still does a lot for the Gulf area. This group, if you did not already conclude from the title of this post, is 3 Doors Down. 3 Doors Down is an alternative rock group from Escatawpa, Mississippi. They first popped up on the radar with their hit song "Kryptonite", but my personal favorite song of the band's is "Let Me Go". The group has not duplicated its success since "Kryptonite", but I still enjoy their songs, style, and lyrics.

I also really enjoy how the group gives back to the places that helped them get started. After Hurricane Katrina, the band helped raise money for the Gulf Area especially hard-hit areas in Mississippi. Hopefully in the next few years, 3 Doors Down will have continuing success and make more hits.

Beyonce is My Life

Anyone who knows me, knows that I absolutely LOVE Beyonce. I have been a huge fan of hers from the start, since she was in the group entitled Destiny's Child. She is the epitome of the kind of woman I want to become. The way she carries herself as a lady, how she dresses classy but sexy, and the way she respects her friends, family and peers is very inspiring. No matter how wealthy she becomes, Beyonce will continue to be the humble woman that she has always been. I love how she shows her true happiness of being a strong, African American, successful independent woman. She proves that you can still be independent while having a healthy relationship with someone just as independent and wealthy as you are. I love the fact that I can relate to the lyrics of all of her songs. Whenever I am down or even on days when I am extremely happy, there is always a song written by Beyonce that can capture exactly how I am feeling. Beyonce is from Houston, Texas and she is a great representation of southern hospitality. She is always willing to help others in any way she can and she treats all of her fans as if they were her children. I truly believe that Beyonce is an icon to not only the South, but throughout the entire world.


This is a video of Beyonce on the David Letterman show. I believe that this interview depicts how humble and "normal" beyonce is as a person. She can relate to things like going home and being lazy in pajamas all day. You just have to love this woman!

Sweet Sounds of the South

One of the oldest and possibly most represented form of tradition in the South is music. From Ragtime to Blues, from Bluegrass to Pop-Country, from Swing stylings to modern R&B, the South has birthed and welcomed some of the greatest musical genres of all time. I challenge you to find your absolute favorite artist or group that is FROM the South. Explain why they top your personal favorites and how they, if they actually do, still connect themselves to the South. Provide a sample of your favorite song by the artist. If for some reason you know no one from the South that you enjoy listening to, give the name of your favorite and WHY you don't enjoy any southern artists (if that's even possible). For example, I might choose Jermaine Dupri who produced the song, "Welcome to Atlanta," if he was, in fact, my favorite artist. He was born and raised in Atlanta, GA and still produces songs about his home.

"Welcome to Atlanta" - Jermaine Dupri (Ft. Ludacris)

Chicken, Southern Fried.

Now, when I say chicken, I don’t mean that KFC, fake-bake, preserved crap. I’m talkin’ ‘bout that good ol’ southern fried chiken! Nothing beats momma’s home-cooked fried chicken. In my family, as most southern families are nowadays, the recipes have been passed down through the generations to the women in the family. Being one of 5 kids, my mom received ALL the recipes my grandmother had in her possession, including the fried chicken recipe. Just as Mary said, there’s nothing that brings back the taste of home like the food you ate while growing up. They say the second most memorable sense is taste; I thoroughly believe it. Just as the northerners have New York style pizza and Chicago deep-dish pizza, the south knows how to fry, or grill, some chicken!

I haven’t the faintest idea how the South has accomplished so much in the culinary scheme of the things, but I can tell you that anyone who visits the South will have a totally unique experience to anywhere else on this continent. See for yourself!

Macaroni and Cheese is Life

I do not think I have ever met anyone who doesn't like macaroni and cheese. What is there not to love? You have a casserole full of delicious noodles with hot cheese melted on top. My family has grown up loving macaroni and cheese, especially my mom's. My mom is from the South so she seasons it just right and the noodles are cooked just the way I like it. No matter what you are having for dinner, you can always depend on macaroni and cheese being a great side to your main course. Macaroni and cheese is clearly from the south because the person cooking it has to have a little bit of soul to add the extra "umph" to the dish. If you ever type "soul food" in google images, you can always count on macaroni and cheese being somewhere in the picture. I absolutely love macaroni and cheese.

It's all a Mush!

The first time I ever really experienced Southern culture was just a couple months ago when Atlanta became my new home. The food was something that struck me quite a bit-- everything seemed incredibly "mushy," for lack of a better choice of words. And I noticed there was yummy mushy food, and really yucky mushy food. As far as pleasing to the taste buds and stomach goes, I would dare include the infinite amounts of casseroles the South is so famous--broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, sweet potato, mac and cheese, corn, etc, etc. How could I forget grits? Then there's turkey, and with turkey must come gravy. And with gravy and turkey, there must be mashed potatoes. That was probably one of the best meals I've ever tasted in my entire life here in the States. But then there's the oh-so-not pleasing food, the one that looks to me like a huge pile of mush. Under that category, I'd have to include chicken and dumplings, and the infamous chicken pot pie. The first time I ever tried, I was appalled. There were biscuits, carrots, peas, onions, celery, chicken, sauce, and black pepper-- but that was only what was visible. Who knows what else this had to give it such interesting texture, a mix of dry and wet, of sweet and sour, of warmth and cold. There are no words to describe what I felt with such a tiny a bite, but the memories are alive as could be.
Overall, Southern food never ceases to amaze me. So every time someone asks me for an opinion of this food, I have mixed emotions. I remember the heartwarming bread with a piece of butter melting on top, the cheesy grits and casseroles; but most importantly I remember the atmosphere I ate in-- warm, cozy, relaxing; I guess that's what Southern hospitality is all about. But then I also remember that mush, and that my friends, is of no good. Perhaps one day I'll learn to appreciate chicken pot pie like every one else seems to. But as of right now, I'll stick with the safe side.

Smithfield's Chicken N' Bar-B-Q... the REAL deal

I'm a Carolina Girl (not the college but the state. Don't try to get those mixed up!), and if there is one thing that people from NC like more than ACC basketball, it is Smithfield's Chicken N' Bar-B-Q. Most Southern barbecue sauce is ketchup and molasses based, but carolina barbecue is vinegar and mustard based giving it a less sticky and sweet taste. If you're from North Carolina, or have familiarized yourself with what is the superior Bar-B-Q style in my opinion, you know the place to go is Smithfield's Chicken N' Bar-B-Q. I love Carolina style Bar-B-Q because it reminds me of home and is truly a Southern dish. It gives a uniqueness to the South, especially North Carolina, because you really can't find Carolina Bar-B-Q anywhere else.

Topic #1- Southern food

The South is at times best known for its characteristic selection of food. These foods range for fried chicken to potato salad and even a drink or two such as sweet tea. According to some, the foods that are in this range help to give the south part of its unique identity, that it is something that “Southerners” can take pride in. For this topic, if you have a favorite southern dish, I would like for you to post a picture of it and explain what you like about it and what makes it different from other foods you may have had from other places. Also, briefly describe how it adds to the uniqueness of the South. If you have never had food that you would call a “southern” dish, pick a southern dish that you think looks good and talk about it in terms of “does it add to the uniqueness of the south” or is it just another food?

Finger lickin' good

When talking about the South, some of the first images that come to mind for some people are images of food. When I say food I’m not just talking about any kind of food. I am talking about things such as fried chicken, mac and cheese, and collard greens. These are all foods that the South is well known for. Many people who are just traveling through Southern states stop at various small town restaurants just to get a taste of this "Southern goodness." You can ask almost anyone who has ever had a "good ole Southern" meal and they would probably tell you just how good it can be.
In addition there are people who have never visited the South that have heard about food here. For example, the other day during a conversation with a girl who had never been south of Tennessee, when told I was from the South, she immediately went to asking about the food we had and if it was as good as people stated. It was then that the realization hit me, Southern food is a good representation of the South.

Soul Food

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about the South is soul food. Whether it is fried chicken and waffles, pig feet or simply Iced Tea, soul food is a great representation of the South. Many people might ask what exactly is soul food? In my opinion, soul food is simply food that can only be found in the South or was originated in the South. Examples of soul food are, of course, fried chicken, collard greens, pig feet, chitlins, sweet iced tea, etc. Normally, families get together and enjoy a delicious meal while sharing memories and simply having a great time. Southern hospitality is also involved with soul food. Food is always served by very friendly people who love to serve others and put a smile on people's faces. Every restaurant that I have visited in the South left a great impression on how people in the South are. The waiters and workers in every restaurant have manners, are very helpful and love to serve me in any way that they can. Anyone that comes to the South will definitely feel welcomed after being served soul food.

Invisible Man

A couple years ago, I began to read what would become one of the most dreaded, yet inspirational books I've ever read--Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison. When I think of the South, especially the old South, images of cruelty and injustice are often present. Just like in the book, the people of the South had moments of epiphany in which they realized how important visibility and a civil rights were. They stood up against the government and fought long and hard for a right to have an opinion and be heard. So when I think of the old South, I essentially think of perseverance, hardships, colors, and bloodshed...
In regards to Invisible Man, the narrator remains nameless throughout the entire book, perhaps because he isn't sure of his own identity. Just like many other African-Americans, he is forced to learn where he "belongs" in society; that is, if he even belongs at all. And so begins his eternal spiral literally to hell. Ironically enough, where he lives is extremely well lit, even to the point he dares to compare it to Broadway. But isn't "light" supposed to be pure and refer to heaven? Apparently not. Everything he does is wrong, everything he thinks is criticized. At the turn of every page came another gruesome scene of violence--a fight he had with his own race and plenty of times he was abused by white-folk. Slowly but surely, the narrator realized that no matter what he did to make himself "visible" in a world which considered him nothing more than a walking shadow, he was essentially always going to be something so simple as an invisible man. Multiple times he was chastised by his own "brothers"--those he looked up to, preached for, stood up for; those of the infamous "Brotherhood." All in all, the narrator concludes that he has always been an "invisible man" and so retreats into an underground basement where society can't see him, he can't see society, and the only things that enlighten him are the lightbulbs that shine ever so bright.

Wagon Wheel

I frequently listen to the song "Rock me Mama (Wagon Wheel)" by Old Crow Medicine Show during my trips back to Raleigh, North Carolina (the city happens to be mentioned in the song). "Rock me Mama" depicts a drive through the South and aspects of the South one would come across. Much of the song also deals with the idea of "coming back" to the South after being elsewhere, an idea and action the band experienced. By introducing idea of wanting to mentally or literally return to the South in the lyrics, the song is a representation of southern identity and the lifelong tie southerners feel with the South in general.

Along with the lyrics, the classic string band sound of Old Crow Medicine Show represents a unique southern style of music that many southerners can identify with. While the Bluegrass genre is not popular throughout the entire South, the style often gives a representation of a small, tight-knit sector of the South that is rich in originality through music.

The Phoenix

I found this statue in the middle of Five Points right near Underground Atlanta last semester. The rise of the Phoenix represents the rise of Atlanta after the city wide fires, Sherman's march, and the Civil War.

By placing this statue directly in the heart of Atlanta, a notably southern state most would say, the artist and company supported the rise of Atlanta. Support in the rebirth shows support in the South. This unity and sense of pride reflects and, in a way, represents the majority of the South.