Southern hospitality, the science

Southern hospitality is typically referred to when speaking about the warmth and openness of southerners. More specifically their ability to make you feel like you belong. People that exemplify this hospitality are supposedly truly southern. This is definitely something that I think exists and have had first hand experience with. Surely it’s definitely more noticeable in certain places but there are many subtle things that make a world of difference. Starting with people’ tone of voice and expression when meeting someone and conversing with them. The excitement and interest they express makes people more comfortable and free. Many people hold strongly to “please and thank you.” Also, there is always respect in southerner’s voices. The people hold you up and make you feel special. Many of these things may be interpreted wrongly…. For example, the interest in what others have to say have been viewed as “Southerners are dumb and are always excited for knowledge,” or that their respect for people is because the other people are actually better than them. This is wrong; Southerners know what they are doing and manage their skills to appropriately manage visitors.

One factor that was brought to my attention years ago and has always stood out was their ability to remember people’s names and to always refer to people by their name. This gives an enormous but yet subtle amount warmth and feeling of importance. Another important part of southern hospitality is the willingness to have others in their home. They will always have their house prepared and keep the food ready and the best stocks available. Welcoming visitors to take part in old traditions or southern games and festivities is also another part of their hospitality that can go a long way.

Southerners truly know how to make the difference when it comes to keeping doors open and hearts warm.

I have encountered some of the most hospitable people in the world down here in New Orleans: the Coon-ass Cajuns

View New Orleans in a larger map

Southern Hospitality

As I’ve mentioned a few times already I haven’t really had any exposure to the “South,” this supposed southern hospitality included. I did a little research on the internet to find out what exactly people mean when they say southern hospitality and it surprised me that Atlanta, Georgia is traditionally included in major cities that have this southern hospitality. I haven’t really felt that people are more inviting any more than the people were back home in Florida. On the other hand my roommate from Massachusetts commented several times about how nice the people down here were, in the restaurants, etc. I didn’t really know what she was talking about; everything seemed normal to me.

In addition to looking up facts I also found a youtube video of Ludacris singing his song titled “Southern Hospitality.” However, after watching and listening to it though I have no idea how what was said connects to southern hospitality. I actually think that it may be that the south is clinging to the notion of having southern hospitality, but not really living it out as they may have used to in the past. Once again, that theme of the performance instead of the genuine thing.

topic for this Week (mar 30)

The South has a reputation or an old cliché of being “mannerly and proper.” We hear about the Southern gentleman and lady, of a southern belle and her suitors. More importantly though is the term “Southern Hospitality.” This is something people of the south seem to pride themselves on… Does it exist and how much of a factor is it in Southerner’s culture?

RE: Where is the South?

Where is the South? I think this question could be answered in two ways. There's your textbook geographical answer of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas. Basically most states below the Mason Dixie line. However the answer I think you're looking for is more where are the stereotypical places that really exemplify the south like in the literature we've been reading.

First I'll address what I think about Maryland and Florida, two southern states you mentioned that don't seem southern at all. I've been to many cities in Florida and have been there multiple times, being it only a 30 minute drive from my home. As for Maryland I've been there once, I went to Ocean City, Maryland. From what I've seen I completely agree with you when you say they don't seem southern. However all the locations I've visited in these two states were primarily large cities like Jacksonville, Tampa, Ocean City, etc. From what I've seen really larges cities lose a lot of their, I guess, "southern identity." Take Atlanta for example, overall it doesn't seem very southern regardless of the fact that it is the capital of one of the most "southern" states.

From my general experience the small towns are the ones that seem more southern. I have family in several small towns through out Georgia and they are by far the most southern places I've ever been. I've got a Aunt in Tifton, Georgia, a Grandmother in Moultrie, Georgia, and a brother in Valdosta, Georgia. They are all roughly 3 hours south of here. I would say if you want to experience "The South" these would be prime places to do so. From the dining to the people its rather hard to visit one of those cities and still say you've never been anywhere "southern."

Where is the South? Because I Still Haven’t Found It --Topic for the Week of March 15th

We have talked a lot this semester about what constitutes Southerness and what it means to be Southern. However, I have not been able to personally relate to the majority this conversation. Despite visiting several supposedly “Southern” states, I’ve never seen anything Southern first hand like we have discussed in class. This brings me to the question, just where is the South? How far south does it reach? Does it include Florida? I would tend to argue no. I grew up in Clearwater, Florida and things like Southern food and Southern culture are completely new to me. On the other hand I look at Florida and see that it is also the birth place of NASCAR. I also cannot speak for the beachless central Florida. Maybe in central Florida there isn’t the flock of northern snowbirds and tourists that keep my city particularly Northern.

How far north does the South reach? In my current history class we learned that the capitol, Washington, DC, was chosen to appease Southerners because it was a more southern location. Does the south really reach that far north? I have also visited my aunt in Maryland who lives about 3 hours away from DC. I didn’t find anything southern up there either. Perhaps I was just north of the North-South border?

And how far west does the South reach? I’ve seen arguments to include Texas, to not include Texas. I’ve never been to Texas so I can’t argue for or against its Southerness; however, I have traditionally considered Texas just as Southern as Florida—not Southern at all. (Which is interesting because these two states actually lie the most south geographically.)

But I do not think bounding the South solves my problems either. I am currently living in Atlanta and have visited Cary, NC (see my previous entry) among a few other locations in pretty Southern states and I have still never experienced anything particularly Southern. Where do I need to go to actually find the South?

I drew a little inspiration from this article. You can too if you need some more ideas.

Response to "Patriotic Drunk Rednecks"

The title of my video is “Patriotic drunk rednecks”. This is a video that stereotypes southerners in a bad way. The video shows drunkenness, racism, smoking, southern accent, and just general stupidity. I have lived in the South for almost 13 years and I have never met people like this. However, I do know that there are a few people in the South who do think and act like this. This video was shot in Kentucky which is a very much a southern state. In the video, two men and a lady are sitting on a motorcycle and discussing why the American people should not vote for Obama. The lady is the main person speaking and she keeps claiming that Obama is an Arab because his middle name is Hussein. She repeats Obama’s full name numerous times throughout the video to emphasize her point. She says that when we are in war with Iraq and Iran, we should not elect an Arab president. Wow, we are not even in a war with Iran. The lady states that she thinks the Arabs are trying to sneak Obama into the White House in order to win the war. A person in the background even calls Obama by the n word which is extremely offensive. One thing in this video that differs from the common stereotype is that the lady in the video voted for Hillary Clinton. Rednecks are usually associated with Republicans. The people in this video are on a motorcycle, while smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. It is sad that there are still people in the world like the ones in this video but it is not an accurate representation of southerners at all. However, Northerners must get a real laugh out of watching this video.

Southern Stereotypes

I have very little experience with the South; I have never really seen Southern people and culture first hand to know whether or not the stereotypes I have in my head are actually true. This YouTube clip that I have shows a pair of boys doing stupid “stunts.” The one boy wears a Stars and Bars cap and refers to him and his friend as “The Southern Hicks.” Both boys have pretty thick accents. The nature of this clip, however, is not really a portrayal or a parody, but real boys acting like real people.

One of the general southern stereotypes I think of is the stupid, reckless redneck and their stunts. This video seems to confirm that stereotype. However, I am not sure if these boys are acting stupid because they are southern hicks, or because they are young boys. I believe that the preconceived ideas I have in my head make me unconsciously attribute their immaturity to being a Southern redneck rather than the more likely reason that they are simply boys. I think this is often the case. I notice instances where Southerners fulfill my expectations and ignore when they are not like the general stereotypes I have come to know due to popular culture.

My You Tube Video

I selected a youtube video that didn't show the south in a stereotypical sense so much as the following video shows the difference between the stereotypical I guess Southerner who like NASCAR and the sort as opposed to the well bred southern who enjoys Bourbon and reading history. For background information, the following conversations are on what's called the 20 (14MHz) meter band where FCC certified amateur operators discuss information as opposed to the Citizens Band, where anyone who owns a CB radio can talk on.


The CB radio is used for the transfer of information and was particularly popular in the 70's and 80's the time before cell phones. CB radio's are still popular with southern buba's. Ever seen this, a truck with large antenna's?


The stereotypical southern CB radio operator is clearly highlighted in this brief youtube clip. I think the view intended in this video is not a over highlighted view of the south.

In regards to the question as to if I have personaly been exposed to this sterotypical view, It is indeed true. I am a FCC certified Amateur Radio Operator and I am glad that I do not have to share these bands with the other folk who talk in a rude manner and who also don't have to observe the rules that everyone else has to.

Blog Topic for Week of March 8

Find and write about a YouTube video that you think shows a stereotype or stereotypes of the south. Could be a video about anything (food, music, history, etc...). Include if possible if you've experienced firsthand the stereotypes showed in the video. Then talk about whether you think that stereotype is an over-dramatized representation or is generally pretty true of people in the south.

For this week

For this week I would like for the group to look at not only southern traditions such as hunting and recreational boating, but I would like for you to take this to the next level in looking at any traditions that you had when growing up and if you could term them as southern or not.

For an example in my household, we purchased a boat after my grandfather sold his from New York. I immediately associated boating with the sort of wild life and events that occur in the south. Additionally, we would go fishing and collect oysters with the boat, these traditions and changes were part of who I was when I was growing up and were in my minds view traditionally southern or at least had southern origins.

Going on long, offshore fishing trips has highlighted my childhood. These trips on boats 30ft or longer would leave at around 5am. I always remember that I am traditionally the one to wake up at 4am to get everything ready. I couldn't wake up for school at 7:30am, but those times we went fishing early in the morning I just woke up early. Since we usually went with a friend that had an older boat, it would take us 3 -4 hours to reach the fishing spot, whereas it took newer boats only about 2 hours and they would wake up later. We also had to leave the fishing grounds early to get home before the sun began to set. Even with radar and GPS the harbor mouth of Charleston is marked by the Jetties that provide a calm harbor, but also provide an obstacle that can sink ships. The Jetties are pictured bellow.
Click here to see the harbor enterance