I have a vast network of imaginary friends on Social Media. Mostly, my imaginary friends are people that are from the mystery novel writing community and their editors and we intersected as photography hobbyists. These folks are spread all over the country and into Tasmania in Australia.
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I do, on occasion, in our private social media group and on the public wall, see some of these friends talk about stereotypes about the South. I know the South is messed up (like everywhere), but, we really take some heat. I try to politely debunk if is not exactly true.
Many have been happy that I could teach them how to properly make fried okra. (Did you know fried okra is a dish in India, too?)
If I drive 30 minutes in one direction, I am in Atlanta. Atlanta (or as people from here say, “Allana”) is a really great place. Except for traffic. And the idea that public transportation brings “crime.” (Dogwhistle.)
If I drive 15 minutes in the other direction, I am in Draketown, where the swastikas and crosses were burnt soon after Charlottesville.
Anyway, I ran across this essay last summer. Since it is Friday and I have no idea what the day will bring, here is an essay.
Enjoy!
The folks residing in the old Confederate States of America may not be hicks, but they aren’t all that knowledgeable or worldly either.
In 2016 some of those southern states voted like this:
Ala: 62.9% for Trump and 34.6% for Clinton
Miss: 58.3% for Trump and 39.7% for Clinton
Tenn: 61.1% for Trump and 34.9% for Clinton
LA: 58.1% for Trump and 38.4% for Clinton
SC: 54.9% for Trump and 40.8% for Clinton
And of course
Arkansas: 60.4% for Trump and 33.8% for Clinton.
Georgia was close, but only because of Atlanta, with 51.3% for Trump and 45.6% for Clinton and
North Carolina is now a southern state where its voters appear to have become critical thinkers. It voted 50.5% for Trump and 49.7% for Clinton.
The South has come a long way since Jim Crow, but it’s got a long way to go.