Southern Character

What is the Southern identity? Does such a thing even exist? Unfourtunately, these are not simple questions to answer.

I live in Charlotte, North Carolina where I was born and raised. If you know anything about Charlotte, then you probably understand why this topic has captured our attention.

Charlotte is on the front lines in the battle of the Southern identity.

Charlotte was once a prototypically "Old-South" city. However, in recent years it has been assaulted by massive cultural importation. The city’s Eastern location and its phenomenal growth (especially in the banking industry) have brought hordes of people into its borders.

To be clear, there is nothing inherently wrong with cultural importation. People are free to move where they choose. However, it does lead many to question their own identity.

Consider this ironic example. With mass media and the considerable immigration, some Charlotteans have felt guilty that they no longer had natural Southern accents. Nevertheless, many Yankee imports tried to “fit in” by faking accents that would never have applied in North Carolina to begin with.

This, and other examples, has left many Southerners scratching their heads as to what “being Southern” really means. Could it possibly be just another cultural relic from the past?

Luckily, the South has a rich history through which they can search for answers.

Some people avoid this because the past doesn't always tell a good story. However, the South's mistakes are crucial to understanding any current identity that may remain. Here's how:

Look at the differences between its errors and its times of glory. Notice what defined its successes and what was lacking in its mistakes. Then you can compare these qualities with other cultures and see whether or not they are unique.

You may be surprised what you find…

What We Found

The American South is not a region of vast natural resources or a dynamic geography. Therefore, its culture has come mostly from the values of its people.

When these values have in been balance, the South has been the jewel of creation. Likewise, when the values have fallen, the land becomes a nightmare.

When the South has been at its best, it has embraced both high character and a strong heart. These ideas, in combination, form the very basis of the "Southern Gentleman/Belle" personas that are so desperately needed today.

Character, class, passion, and heart: these are absolutely essential to the Southern identity. 

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The South has produced many heroes that have embodied these concepts. In fact, there may be no better way to witness these values than to examine the lives of those that have most fully embodied them.

But in addition to its heroes, you must honestly look at its mistakes.

First and foremost, slavery was an abomination. But often people let that overshadow some other very significant errors that the South has produced.

At the end of the day, these mistakes came about because too many Southerners had a failure of either character or heart.

And, at least in our minds, a failure of character and/or passion is decidedly un-Southern.

However, this passion and character that was lacking during its mistakes often manifested itself throught the culture instead. Thus, the South has produced many fantastic cultural legacies. This can be seen in its traditions, music, and unique cooking among other things.

In fact, some of these cultural phenomena (like rock and roll) have become so large that they are often referred to as “American” or even “Western.” But now you know the truth…

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Many Southerners are nostalgic for the glory of the past. And that’s OK.

The South has a very unique and compelling history. It may be so attractive that some may want to recreate it rather than learn from it.

But rather than getting stuck in the past, we should embrace the future. 

Future success will be virtually guaranteed if more of us embrace lives of high class character and deep, passionate soul.

Here’s what will not work: clinging to the symbols of the past while rejecting its values.

This phenomenon can often be witnessed among hate groups.

Truthfully, many of these individuals probably hold a valid desire to define their identity and resurrect past glory. However, hate was a mistake of the past and was a major contributor the South's downfall.

It makes no sense trying to rebuild the past by holding on to what caused its collapse.

Therefore, the South needs to redefine and re-embrace its commitment to character and heart. When this happens, the glory of the future will far outweigh that of the past.

And here at the Southern Character Project, that's exactly what we want to participate in.