Richmond and Virginians attitudes towards "Northerners" (Virginia Beach, Hampton: transplants, living in) - (VA) - City-Data Forum

stevesmith111 · 10-06-2009, 08:30 PM

I moved here from southern Pennsylvania, and overall the residents in Virginia and Richmond are very nice! However, I've heard "Yankee" playfully mentioned a few times since I moved here.. and the more subtle "Northerner" term has been said about other people here, along with myself. Ya'll might not believe me, but there are more Confederate flags hanging around southern Pennsylvania than there are around here in the Richmond area. But that is besides the point.

Based on these observations and experiences, it seems that some people in Virginia and Richmond are prejudiced against others that relocate here from north of the Mason Dixon line. It also appears that some Virginians are very "cautious" or reserved around nice people and families that move here from north of the Mason Dixon line.

I am very curious about the reasons for this. Most US citizens who live north of the Mason Dixon line today DO NOT HAVE ANCESTORS that were living in the United States during the Civil War. The largest waves of immigrants from Europe migrated to the northeastern US in the 1880s-1920's. So there is virtually no connection to, or memories of the Civil War for most people "up North." This is why alot of Americans, like myself are very surprised when we encounter this subtle, or overt attitudes.

If someone from "the North" moved here and is polite, and even says "Sir" and "Ma'am" - do certain Richmonders and Virginians still have a prejudice towards him/her? What is the logic of this judgemental attitude towards other Americans? I would love to hear what the real deal is.

roanoker 4 · 10-06-2009, 09:49 PM

As a lifelong Virginian I can tell you the western part of the state was more sympathetic toward the Union than the Confederacy. I have always noticed more of a "southern heritage" type legacy in Richmond than most places I've visited. Todays Richmond has moved on for the most part and there are probably more non-Southerners by birth living in the Richmond area. The Confederacy will always be a part of the history of this state, it will never go away and no

ne has figured out how to handle the issue in a politically correct manner. It is sad to see the divisions on this matter and I wonder if America is not headed into another "secession" of some sort.

sevenfiveseven · 10-06-2009, 11:01 PM

Well, I was born and raised in Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach). I personally dont have any prejudice towards Northerners. We have a lot of PA transplants around here and we all seem to get along fine. Truth be told, I never heard of the term "yankee" much until I started reading these City Data post.

I think that some of the resistance is because of stereotyping. Use these forums for example. Have you read any of these "Am I northern or southern" posts? They get really nasty, and you would think that it is some sort of disease to be southern after reading them! In this region we really get the worst of stereotyping and jokes(some ill admit are funny) created from Northerners more than any other region, and I believe this is a reason why some northerners are not welcomed.

Finally, I have to say that this issue seems to be more of a white america issue. As a southern AA, I've always been able connect with my fellow AA people in MA, NY, PA, NJ, DE, MD, and DC easily and only slightly feel like an outsider.

kidyankee764 · 10-06-2009, 11:15 PM

I have visited Richmond from the North many times and found the people to be very friendly.

stevesmith111 · 10-07-2009, 05:09 AM

Yes, I love it here and most people are friendly. I'm just trying to figure out how to avoid the above mentioned scenarios, and why some still persist on being prejudiced against people who move here from north of the MD Line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I have visited Richmond from the North many times and found the people to be very friendly.

BayAreaHillbilly · 10-07-2009, 02:13 PM

Well try this on for size. When the war broke out, some of my dad's ancestors lived straddling the PA/WV/VA border area and wore both blue and gray. Not quite brother against brother but certainly cousin against cousin. The whole "mid Atlantic" is a very complicated place regarding the war between the states and feelings about it.

stevesmith111 · 10-07-2009, 06:01 PM

Virginia really is a great place with tons of nice people everywhere. I'm just trying to figure out the whole spectrum.

cityboi757 · 10-07-2009, 08:04 PM

I grew up in Hampton Roads. Down here people are very accepting of northern transplants.

roanoker 4 · 10-07-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Well try this on for size. When the war broke out, some of my dad's ancestors lived straddling the PA/WV/VA border area and wore both blue and gray. Not quite brother against brother but certainly cousin against cousin. The whole "mid Atlantic" is a very complicated place regarding the war between the states and feelings about it.

That was the same story as my ancestors. When I was very young I remember going to the Antietam battefield shows in MD wearing my Union uniform and my brother wore the confederate uniform. Somehow I never liked the confederate side. If you ever go to Atlanta there is a cyclorama there that basically makes you believe the South won the war, while at Gettysburg the visitor center rarely mentions Robert E Lee. The Shenandoah Valley Va and WV were not fond of the confederates like the eastern part of VA. I have never identified with the confederates.

Nebat · 10-07-2009, 10:12 PM

Are you sure that the people using the term 'yankee' aren't "yankees" themselves? My step dad is from NY and he will actually drop it on other unsuspecting NY/NJ/PA people just to stir them up a bit. But as a whole, I have never myself felt any animosity toward my northern neighbors. I will however use the term northeasterner(s) to describe a certain experience or conversation or attitude I had with someone. Also, my best friend(RIP) was a native New Jersey dude and I don't ever recall him complaining about any anti NE sentiment. In fact most of my friends are either from up north or their parents are and again never heard of any complaints. Richmond seems to be mostly populated by New Yorkers these days so I can't imagine any anti NE sentiment there either. Despite the whole civil war thing. Overall I think the state at least along the I-64 corridor and above is quite accepting of people from above the mason-dixon. And if they don't they should, the war ended over a hundred years ago! BTW, if you didn't notice I am a native of VA despite a 2 year detour in PA.