Maryland a southern state (Baltimore, Potomac: commuter, systems, resident)

[gwillyfromphilly]

49 more post to 1000! lol.

[thedisciple]

Oh god this argument again. Maryland is unique, parts of it are Southern, others are not.

Greater Baltimore - Has always been Northern and always will be.

Greater D.C. - Transplants have diluted what was once southern. It is now Northern.

Eastern Shore - Southern lite

Western Maryland - Appalacian/Southern

If you go by population, its mostly a northern state. If you go by area, its southern

Overall, its an interesting and unique state that has elements of both cultures. But on the whole, it leans northern.

[DC's Finest]

Black people in NYC drink sweet tea, eat corn bread, grits, ham hocks, neckbones, etc.....

[gwillyfromphilly]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

Black people in NYC drink sweet tea, eat corn bread, grits, ham hocks, neckbones, etc.....

When you think about it, there is no definitive line that separates African American cuisine from traditional Southern cuisine.

[andrew_s]

Originally Posted by SoMD42

First of all, I would like to say i have a Doctorate level education and I'm not a southern MD hillbilly who claims MD is southern and doesn't have a basis for it. I grew up in southern MD, went to college with people from up north and lived in TN. Based on my upbringing and cultural experiences, I consider myself a southerner and MD is the South. I grew up saying y'all, drank sweet tea, ate collard greens and grits, and understood Maryland's history as the Old South.

The fact that MD was part of the Old South is undeniable and deep roots of southern culture are still
alive in rural areas of the state (e.g. So MD, eastern shore). If Maryland isn't southern then why is it listed in the biggest southern publication, Southern Living, that was made and is continually produced by "real southerners"? Why does the census continue to list it as the south? Why do people say y'all? These points could go on forever but what really helps to make sense of it all is pointing out the reasons why people discard MD as the South.

The fringes of the south (northern VA, surburbian MD, Florida) have experienced the most rapid desouthernization than any other areas of the South due to economic and lifestyle reasons. The MD/VA area is attractive to many people from up north because it's a geographically central, almost recession proof, has excellent schools, moderate climate, and a short drive to PA/NJ/NY. What's the first state you hit coming south? Maryland. Florida has experienced this change as well but mainly due to retirees and snowbirds. Florida was the Deep south until it became New York south. Why do you think the south doesnt consider Florida southern? Maryland has so many transplants from up north its not even funny. The majority of people in Montgomery, Howard and DC might be MD'ers but by 1 generation. I work in Anne Arundel county and I would vouch to say that between 1/3rd and 1/2 of my patients are from the North.

The South is always changing and will continue to change as people move and transplants do not assimilate with southern culture. How ever you want to cut it up, to me being Southern is a state of mind. My family's roots run deep here and I'm southern because of everything that was passed down to me over hundreds of years in Southern Maryland.

EXACTLY how I feel.

[GoPhils]

He/she makes some good points but the only sentence that doesn't make any sense to me is "What's the first state you hit coming south?" Coming south from where? That statement is only true if you're coming from Pennsylvania.

[MidValleyDad]

Originally Posted by GoPhils

He/she makes some good points but the only sentence that doesn't make any sense to me is "What's the first state you hit coming south?" Coming south from where? That statement is only true if you're coming from Pennsylvania.

And Delaware :-)

[GoPhils]

Dela-where? Yes, and Delaware.

[andrew_s]

Originally Posted by DC's Finest

Black people in NYC drink sweet tea, eat corn bread, grits, ham hocks, neckbones, etc.....

Im a white marylander and I eat corn bread and grits and I ALWAYS have a gallon or 2 of luzianne fresh brewed sweet tea in my fridge at home (HAS to be luzianne as it was a staple growing up).

Like the other poster stated traditionally black people cuisine is similar if not the same as traditional southern comfort food. Besides the spread of and homogenization that is happeneing these days has some people in NYC drinking sweet tea where traditionally that wasnt the case.

[aav amphibs]

Arguments for Maryland as a Southern state

1. Maryland began as a true southern colony. It was planned to be like Virginia, a tobacco economy which in turn, required indentured servants. (Slavery.) This is the best argument I see in Maryland being a southern state. It's roots.

2. Maryland lies below the Mason Dixon line. Which was really not a dividing line between North and South, however, many view this line as such.

3. During Civil War, alot of southern sympathy, many fought for the south, though really the minority of them, and troops were ambushed in Baltimore by southern sympathizers, many locked up during duration of the civil war.

4. U.S. Census considers Maryland a southern state along with Delaware, which in general, those same states are categorized northern in other maps and by other organizations or groups or economically tied to the north.

Arguments for Maryland being a Northern State

1. Maryland remained UNION during the Civil War. Despite opposition. Most Marylanders sided with the Union. Maryland remained under Union hands during the whole of the Civil War. Washington DC memorials are all for famous Union generals and memorials. There is no star in the CSA flag for Maryland. This is probably their best argument.

2. Potomac river. This river is viewed by many as the true dividing NORTH/SOUTH line. As mentioned, the Mason Dixon line was made in the 1700's with nothing to do with North/South dividing line.

3. Norfolk Virginia is ICE FREE all year around. Not the same can be said for upper Chesapeake Bay area. (Aka, Baltimore where at times you need icebreakers.)

4. Subway metro in Washington DC, Baltimore has more of a northern quality unlike southern cities. Can you think of a southern subway system?

5. Politically, Maryland votes along with the other northern states and predominately Democratic.