Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I guess those are the sorts of folks who rarely see any sizable city in the South as Southern, since Memphis has got to be one of the most culturally Southern cities for its size. Personally, I don't see how Memphis could be mistaken for anything other than a Southern city.
It's mostly the people that they're talking about. They're barely Southern compared to people in rural areas. The history and everything else is Southern.
It's mostly the people that they're talking about. They're barely Southern compared to people in rural areas. The history and everything else is Southern.
Personally, I find the people to be Southern as well, but if you're comparing the people of Memphis to the people of Humboldt or Johnson City, then I guess I can see how someone would say that Memphians are "barely Southern." But there's always been a more urban version of being Southern, along with the stereotypically rural characteristics.
To you those cities might seem Southern, but to a lot of rural Southerners, the cities are hardly Southern. Most people consider Memphis to be a very Southern city, but all of my friends from small towns in TN say that Memphis is the least Southern place in TN. I really don't feel like Memphis is that Southern either. It's all relative.
Memphis is the least Southern city in Tennessee? Most people say Memphis shares more culturally and demographically with Mississippi than the rest of Tennessee. Is Mississippi Southern?
Today the real south and the south that is not going to change anytime soon is in the rural areas and small towns and it is a big area if you add them all up.
Most of these towns inhabitants are multi-generational southerners whose roots go back a long ways to the area of where they are from.
Most of these areas have very few transplants because those places are not appealing to the outsiders.
The cities Atlanta --Memphis--Charlotte etc.. do not represent the south anymore.IMO and FWIW.
Today the real south and the south that is not going to change anytime soon is in the rural areas and small towns and it is a big area if you add them all up.
Most of these towns inhabitants are multi-generational southerners whose roots go back a long ways to the area of where they are from.
Most of these areas have very few transplants because those places are not appealing to the outsiders.
The cities Atlanta --Memphis--Charlotte etc.. do not represent the south anymore.IMO and FWIW.
They represent the South in the same manner larger cities in the North represent the North. Think of it this way, nobody ever says that New York City is not Northern, but Northerners like to say that Miami is not Southern. Both cities are points of entry and have a high population of people from other countries.
Rural North is also different than urban North, so are the urban areas of the North not representative of the North? Just trying to understand your logic.
The large southern cities most certainly DO represent the south, just as much as the southern rural areas. How could they not?
The larger cities may feel a bit less southern in nature due to the transplants from other areas but that definitely does not make them any less southern. There will still be locals in large cities. It's not like transplants are replacing them.
The large southern cities most certainly DO represent the south, just as much as the southern rural areas. How could they not?
The larger cities may feel a bit less southern in nature due to the transplants from other areas but that definitely does not make them any less southern. There will still be locals in large cities. It's not like transplants are replacing them.
There are relatively few transplants when compared to the number of Southerners in Memphis, or any other city in the South. Transplants are the vast minority in Southern cities and do not shape the culture. If they did, Memphis would be Gyros, Philly Cheesesteaks, Clam Chowder, and Stromboli instead of BBQ, Fried Chicken, Pecan Pie, and Grits.
There are relatively few transplants when compared to the number of Southerners in Memphis, or any other city in the South. Transplants are the vast minority in Southern cities and do not shape the culture. If they did, Memphis would be Gyros, Philly Cheesesteaks, Clam Chowder, and Stromboli instead of BBQ, Fried Chicken, Pecan Pie, and Grits.
While I agree with you to some extent, I don't completely. You can find that in places like Atlanta or Central and South Florida.
While I agree with you to some extent, I don't completely. You can find that in places like Atlanta or Central and South Florida.
You can find fried chicken all over NYC but that doesn't make it Southern. There is always a niche market, but the identitiy of Southern cities is that of Southern culture.
You can find fried chicken all over NYC but that doesn't make it Southern. There is always a niche market, but the identitiy of Southern cities is that of Southern culture.
I agree.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WanderingImport
The larger cities may feel a bit less southern in nature due to the transplants from other areas but that definitely does not make them any less southern. There will still be locals in large cities. It's not like transplants are replacing them.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
