What does it mean to be 'southern' or a 'southerner'? That query become posed to me ultimate night via e mail from my true friend, Greg, who's originally from ny however relocated to Atlanta numerous years in the past. rather than solution him at once I responded to his e-mail with the same query, "What do you think it method to be considered 'southern(er)'?" My alias, 'The lively Southerner," is what initially sparked his query, however when you consider that he's a person of coloration from the high-quality country of new York, i used to be curious if his interpretation of the time period/s carried a high-quality connotation or otherwise.

My friend, Greg informed me his father is from Lake Hartwell, Georgia and his mom is from North Carolina. His family traveled to his parents' hometowns frequently over the years so the south was no longer 'new' to him. In truth, he shared early memories of the region. He recalled the u . s . stores with the screened doors, and riding down the two-lane roads in which human beings could wave from their the front porches, whether or not they knew you or no longer. His early impressions were that the folks down south have been polite and pleasant, open, very trusting, and really laid again. He become born in big apple however truly moved to Atlanta from Virginia twenty years ago. seeing that turning into an Atlanta resident he came to realize  matters of 'current day' south. #1: most of the people who are right here now are from anywhere else however the south, so everybody is not as hospitable as he recollects. #2: some of the southerners who had been born right here aren't as brazenly hospitable because they're greater aware of the southern "transplants" that brought their more reserved cultures with them when they moved here. Southerners are nonetheless very forgiving parents, but to a positive volume unforgiving, which is a softer manner of pronouncing green with envy of the beyond. He additionally shared with me that quickly after shifting to Atlanta back in 1986, he had a commercial enterprise appointment in Gainesville, Georgia. This became shortly after Oprah Winfrey had aired a display wherein she visited Forsyth County's town of Cumming, GA. which will reach his destination he had no other choice however power thru Cumming and he changed into very wary of doing so. He made it a point to complete his commercial enterprise on the way to get lower back on the road nicely "earlier than the sun went down." whilst requested if he feels 'at domestic' in Atlanta now, Greg's response turned into "absolutely. I certainly pass over it once I cross lower back to Virginia or ny and i am usually stressful to go back domestic to the southern hospitality. I just desire it changed into more of it nonetheless round."

As a local of Atlanta, Georgia for barely more than 59 years now i have seen the south and 'southerners' change in lots of methods, at the same time as remaining the identical in only as many others. but what constitutes the 'south'? The division of the North and the South began when two surveyors, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, mapped out what's called the famous Mason-Dixon Line. It turned into surveyed nearly 2 ½ centuries in the past between 1763 and 1767 within the decision of a border dispute in colonial North the us. however, it is most usually related to the division between the northern "loose states" and southern "slave states" in the course of the american Civil battle-generation, nearly 1 ½ centuries in the beyond.

After the Civil warfare, the Mason-Dixon Line continued to be idea of as a cultural boundary concerning literacy, financial and industrial development, as well as social progress and racial integration. properly into the twenty first Century we nevertheless seek advice from ourselves as 'northerners' or 'southerners'. With northerners' nicknamed 'Yankees', I bear in mind my uncle explaining "the difference among a Yankee and a rattling Yankee is that Yankees just go to, even as damn Yankees flow right here for desirable." it's no longer enough that we've racial, age and sophistication discriminations and discord in this usa-we've got nearby divisions, as nicely.

even as attending my ebook-signings and public activities i am always surrounded with the aid of a multiplicity of accents. There are overseas accents from every u . s . a . on earth, simply as there are obvious northern and of direction, southern accents. while a few northern accents may appear harsh or abrupt, bordering on loud and abrasive, there are a few southern accents with the long drawl considered by means of many as hectic and much less than literate. The northerners make a laugh of the southern accents while the southerners imitate their northern counterparts. whenever there is a film with southern characters they almost continually are sure to 'over-play' the drawl, such that it grates on a true southerner's ear-drums, corresponding to nails scratching on the blackboard.

In a recent ballot  conducted at the website of Atlanta, Georgia's Fulton excessive college Alumni, the responses were varied yet much like the query:
"what does it imply to be southern or a southerner?" for instance, Jean, who changed into born and raised within the south, spent 2 years in Boston. even though they made fun of her on every occasion she opened her mouth, she usually tried to expose them southern allure and admire. Jean believes being southern way showing appreciate for anyone, especially elders, announcing "yes mam/sir" and "No mam/sir," and beginning a door for others, mainly girls and seniors, which she says she in no way noticed in Boston. Jean went on to describe being southern as smiling at others and saying, "hey,"-being friendly--even to strangers, and expressing appreciation by using pronouncing, "thanks." throughout her live in Boston she said folks simply didn't smile and heaven forbid if she asked directions. on the lighter side, she shared her concept of "southern" as iced tea and Sunday dinner, family spending time together and taking care of each other, supporting friends and acquaintances, particularly when they're having tough times. and she adds, "Southern used to intend a bit slower pace in existence-i am now not so sure that is the case now, even though." She closed with saying, "Being southern is a good feeling to your coronary heart that I nearly misplaced in Boston."

every other response to the poll became from Frank, who is additionally southern via beginning. He says a Southerner enjoys all 4 seasons of the 12 months, from the oppressive warmth and humidity to the famous ice storms that could paralyze a town for days. And of course, it method going for walks to the store to buy milk and bread each time a climate report even mentions snow.

He in addition regards a Southerner as being tolerant of others, constantly polite and respectful. He describes a real southern man as "a gentleman who nevertheless holds a door for a lady, even on this day of feminist actions." He provides, "a real southern woman nonetheless accepts small favors, which includes a person commencing a door for them, with out questioning the worst."

Mark Pollard is a nicely-diagnosed historian among the alumnae, and his know-how of the Civil conflict and southern history is extremely good. His response was so profoundly written, "We might also go away the south to examine, look for love, earn a dwelling, are trying to find adventure or opportunities, but a real Southerner constantly returns home, although it is best in a pine box. As all of us who lives within the South can inform you, it's far an area of extremes and contradictions: we're known for our friendliness, however remembered for the Civil struggle, often thought of as hicks, however producers of bucket-loads of presidents, senators and noble warriors. The South appears to take pleasure in lifestyles a bit greater than the rest of the u . s .. I recognize that Moonshine is not some thing inside the sky but out of a Mason jar and that i understand that each one appropriate Southerners have a hound canine in heaven."

but another response got here from Billy, obviously as proud a southerner you would ever meet, who said in no uncertain phrases, and i quote, "Being Southern is by the Grace of God."

For the most part, those responses should easily be summed up through the notorious term "Southern Hospitality." it really is the term used to explain the real graciousness and experience of welcoming that southerners extend to "folks that are not from round their neck of the woods." Being gracious is making strangers sense secure whilst respectful in their rights to have reviews, and with out causing a "ruckus," even if a few feathers may additionally were ruffled. Hospitality and manners move hand-in-hand, and even as it's miles viable to study the ones developments as adults, they are maximum without difficulty instilled in kids whilst raised to deal with others with appreciate. That can be done anywhere...now not simply the south. however, the authentic Southern Spirit of Hospitality handiest lives as long as we preserve respiration life into it via our moves. that can most effective be performed by using setting correct examples for the many who are now "Southern by means of preference," having relocated right here from other areas of the u . s ....and the arena.

there's one certain fire manner to inform whether someone is certainly southern at heart, and this is to offer them a large heaping bowl of buttered 'grits,' 'crackling cornbread,' or a 'banana sandwich'. If their upper lip curls, the probabilities are they're not southern through start. but deliver them a danger-those dishes native to the southern place can quick come to be an obtained taste. Hospitality can rub off, and given enough time, so can the drawl, as in "Yaw'll come again now, ya hear?"