The Unwashed South
Hunting around for a lined pad to use for my little class, I found this image, cut from a magazine long ago, on the pasteboard back of the pad. I think I remember doing this, and at the time, I was working in a Pain Center in the midst of North Carolina's Furniture Belt. Oh the stories I could tell.
And now I look at this image and bristle a bit from the message it contains. I've lost the context of it from it's source, but it portrays 'trailer trash' southern whites who are uneducated, uncouth, unclean and uncool. How many stereotypes can you pick out? (I see at least a dozen. See below.) And where is Waldo?
- Shotgun at the ready
- camoflage outfit standard issue
- all are 'big boned'
- bus seat in the front yard
- no grass in the front yard
- 1950's model 'trailer home' up on cinderblocks
- big ugly dog that can do 35 mph. Can you?
- biker dude with long dirty hair (dirt-hippie)
- th' two boys there got hats on
- (all th' boys is brothers, and Charlene there is Spider's woman)
- Easy Charlene (works at Dinky Diner) with big hair in a too-tight dress
- at least one bondo-enhanced auto up on cinderblocks
- redneck tans
- barefoot hick with missing teeth in overhauls
Comments
A ripped-up bus seat, no less. Grr..
As a 'yankee' who's lived in (and adored) the South for 7 yrs. now, I too bristle at the stereotypes of southerners. Heck, there is no shortage of uneducated, uncouth, unclean and uncool people up North, out East or West, either. They talk funny, too. :)
Posted by: peggy | June 12, 2003 1:07 PM
What a totally awesome pic! :-) I guess Waldo is the dog? Someplace I have a photo of my and some fraternity grothers dress up in blues and greys from one of those booths at the County Fair. It's all sepia, though, you can only tell who is who by the style of flag on our hats.
As some part of my life was spent in the "Blue Springs Mobile Home Park" near Kennesaw, GA, I rather bristle at the stereotypes and enjoy the truth of them as well.
The problem w/ a stereotype is the truth of it, yes?
Posted by: Huw Raphael | June 12, 2003 7:05 PM
Now how could you tell that he was keeping his missing teeth in his overalls? I've looked and looked and can't find them.
Posted by: Joel | June 13, 2003 1:10 AM
I have to take a moment to comment on the other side of this whole stereotype question. I lived in North Carolina for four years (1980 to 1984). During this time, I encountered plenty of stereotypes -- about what it meant to be a Californian. These included:
* I knew how to surf
* I wanted to get every woman I knew nude and in the hot tub with me
* I not only smoked pot, but I sold it
* I lived for sex
* I liked blondes
* I didn't know how to drive in snow
* I had friends who were movie stars
* I was an animal rights activist
* I was a cultist
You might say it was "just turnabout", but I call it "annoying as all hell and uncalled for".
Posted by: Joel | June 13, 2003 1:25 AM
Enhancement to #12: A vehicle that doesn't run but has it's hood up as if someone was tinkering with it (and it's been that way for several years).
Posted by: bogie | June 13, 2003 6:16 AM
Is that a Rebel hat on the camo boy? And he's got his 'gator fightin' boots on. Perhaps the chopper is neuveau Redneck? (Wouldn't Daisy Mae be proud of that dress?)
Posted by: Cop Car | June 14, 2003 12:47 PM
People don't guess that I am from Louisiana because I don't have the accent, and when I do tell them; they assume that I hate Yankees, I am racist, I am part of the KKK, and that I am stupid, which I am not. All these stereotypes really upset me, and I have had to explain that in fact stupid racist people are not just from the south they are from all over. If you believe any of these stereotypes please listen carfully to "Sweet Home Alabama". And also don't believe the term "red neckks" is a term for southern men, because it is not. It is actually a tern the long haired hippies came up with for the people who had short hair with sun burns on their necks, and let me tell you not only southern men had short hair.
Posted by: Sarah (the hick...grrr) | June 25, 2003 1:50 PM
ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS HELL YEAH!!!!
love the picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SPOKEN BY A TRUE SOUTHERN BELL!!!!
a georgia PEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nothing like a redneck and that picture speaks
for itself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: AUDREY | July 31, 2004 6:54 AM
ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS HELL YEAH!!!!
love the picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SPOKEN BY A TRUE SOUTHERN BELL!!!!
a georgia PEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nothing like a redneck and that picture speaks
for itself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: AUDREY | July 31, 2004 6:55 AM