When Southerners were mass migrating to Northern cities, did people lament the loss of northernness? (credit, movies)

[vivo]

we always here the reverse on this board. i wonder what it was like midcentury.

here's something regarding baltimore and appalachian migrants

i think most of them were wvian (which isn't necesssairily southern) to bmore (part southern)

From the Hills: How Mid-Century Migrants from the Mountains Brought Bluegrass--and More--to Baltimore | Baltimore City Paper

part of the article:
From the Hills
How Mid-Century Migrants from the Mountains Brought Bluegrass--and More--to Baltimore


Even today, that Southern Appalachian influence is part of what makes Baltimore so different from other stops on the Washington-to-Boston Amtrak line. When people talk about Baltimoreans' earthy frankness, their stubborn nontrendiness, and their willingness to dance at the drop of a hat, they're often referring to lingering hillbilly traits. From meat-and-potatoes diners to John Waters' poor white film characters to the Deer Creek Fiddlers convention, the mountains still affect Baltimore culture.
Moderator cut: rest of article removed due to copyright

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Baltimore is south of the Mason Dixon and somewhat southern already. The local old time accent has a drawl. So not the greatest example.

Now in the case of migrations to the true northern cities, interestingly, most Southrons would assimilate unless they were black. So, I'd expect the same for those making modern migrations.

[tallydude02]

Some of of my father's relatives are from the far western corner of southwestern Pennsylvania and they had a hard time adjusting to Akron, OH when they moved there in the 1940's. Although north of the Mason-Dixon line, SW Pennyslvania is a part of Appalachia. They were called hillbillies and were made fun of alot because of their accents. Eventually they adapted but moved back to Greene County, PA when they retired.

[happ]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Baltimore is south of the Mason Dixon and somewhat southern already. The local old time accent has a drawl. So not the greatest example.

Now in the case of migrations to the true northern cities, interestingly, most Southerners would assimilate unless they were black. So, I'd expect the same for those making modern migrations.

People in Baltimore do have an interesting accent though many claim it is the worse accent in America [not really Southern or East Coast]. Ever see any of John Water's movies He uses Baltimore in all his movies & makes fun of the people.

There was a mass migration of "Dust Bowl" Southerners into California in the 1930's & some were stopped at the border by police in an attempt to turn them back [not sure exactly why Lots of people from Oklahoma settled in areas like Bakersfield & other semi-rural areas of California. There was some resentment but overall they set-up a little piece of the "South" in California [ie. country music].

[Jeromeville]

Well, yes: During the "Great Migration" of the early 20th century, when black Southerners moved North in great numbers, there were a lot of (white) Northerners who didn't much like it. However, no one was lamenting the loss of "Northernness."

[majoun]

Originally Posted by happ

People in Baltimore do have an interesting accent though many claim it is the worse accent in America [not really Southern or East Coast]. Ever see any of John Water's movies He uses Baltimore in all his movies & makes fun of the people.

There was a mass migration of "Dust Bowl" Southerners into California in the 1930's & some were stopped at the border by police in an attempt to turn them back [not sure exactly why Lots of people from Oklahoma settled in areas like Bakersfield & other semi-rural areas of California. There was some resentment but overall they set-up a little piece of the "South" in California [ie. country music].

Many of the "Okies" were Texans. Texans had been migrating to California earlier, but the Dust Bowl really cemented the influence of TX/OK on CA. Not only was California's country music tradition a result of the Texas/Oklahoma influence on California, but the migration of blacks from those states intensified jazz and blues in California. (A large percentage of California's African-American population to this day has roots from those states.) And there was influence on native-born Californians as well - for example, Creedence Clearwater Revival were from Berkeley despite their "southern" sound, but the Fogerty brothers credited the influence of Texan whites and blacks who moved to the Bay Area during the Dust Bowl and WW2 and their country music and blues as a key factor in their sound. Across the bay, the young Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Ron McKiernan were equally influenced by the sounds that the "Okies"/Texans brought with them.

I sense a disproportionate number of Californians who are moving back to that part of the country are only two or three generations removed from it.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Baltimore is south of the Mason Dixon and somewhat southern already. The local old time accent has a drawl. So not the greatest example.

The Mason-Dixon line (the border between PA and MD) referred to slavery, so it's not really relevant regarding post-Civil War America. But there are parts of MD that have a drawl, like the Eastern Shore. And oddly enough Joe Biden made a speech once honoring the Delaware Grays (the DE Confederate regiment) as a part of that state's heritage, even though modernly MD and DE would be considered "northern".

On the east coast, the South begins when one crosses the Potomac and especially once one leaves the Beltway.

[City Fanatic]

Originally Posted by happ

People in Baltimore do have an interesting accent though many claim it is the worse accent in America [not really Southern or East Coast]. Ever see any of John Water's movies He uses Baltimore in all his movies & makes fun of the people.

There was a mass migration of "Dust Bowl" Southerners into California in the 1930's & some were stopped at the border by police in an attempt to turn them back [not sure exactly why Lots of people from Oklahoma settled in areas like Bakersfield & other semi-rural areas of California. There was some resentment but overall they set-up a little piece of the "South" in California [ie. country music].

The inland empire, desert area, and Bakersfield areas of California seems to have elements of southern culture.

[Perfect Stranger]

Since most of those migrants were black the reaction was crosses on fire stuff rather than simple moaning.

[JefferyT]

This was very much the case with Dayton, Ohio.

This migration apparently started in a small way around WWI, but really took off during the WWII and postwar era. It was a mass migration of white southern Appalachains from KY, WVA, and Tennessee, and it altered the local culture into one considerably more southern. This influence continues to this day in ways large and small. A small way is the way our local PBS affliate broadcasts documentaries on applachian history and culture produced by West Viriginia Public Television.

Apparently when this was happening it was NOT popular with the natives, who used the pejorative term "briar" (as in briarhopper) to describe the Applachian influx. Hillbilly wasn't used, from what I can tell.