One of the first thing everyone who isn't from the South realizes upon encountering Southerners is that a lot of folks1 from the South seem to still take the War of Northern Aggression2 personally. They find this amazing, amusing or both, and usually make a bunch of invalid assumptions about the reason for this.Many Southerners do still resent the outcome of that war. It seldom has anything to do with skin color prejudice, as is often believed. The reasons are complex, but they mostly boil down to the end of the war and the immediate aftermath.
Some history books paint this picture honestly; others do not. But after the War, the North was viciously punitive towards the South. Despite the fact that both sides perpetrated the War (firing on a single ship should not have resulted in the wholesale war that followed3), all blame was placed squarely on the South, and the South was expected to make complete reparations. Furthermore, the South was ridiculed and completely turned upside down by the carpetbaggers. Some states, such as Texas, had an onerous constitution shoved down their throats, which to this day makes it difficult to forget their treatment after the War.
The government in Washington freed the slaves, but then did nothing to educate them, house them, feed them, or otherwise help. In some cases the occupation army (all political correctness aside, that is what it was) not only did nothing to uphold lawlessness, but actually encouraged the freed slaves to cause trouble. This naturally increased resentment towards both the freed slaves and the North.
Over the years, the bitterness of the federal treatment was often passed down from parents to children. This might have softened over the years but for the fact that the federal government of the USA has treated every vanquished foreign enemy far better than the South was treated. In the best cases (Japan, West Germany), the USA helped the defeated people rebuild, so that they came out at least as strong as before, if not even better off in many ways. In the worst cases (Mexico) they were simply left alone after the wars ended. Only the American Indians were treated worse by the federal government than the South.
When I refer to the South, I include those of African descent. Many African-Americans also resent the way they were treated, albeit differently. And their focus appears externally to be quite different. But in reality those of both light and dark skin color in the South usually want something similar; dignity, and to be left alone. And they wouldn't mind their own country.
The fact that those of African descent are favored by the current climate of political correctness does little to assuage the feelings of the "white" folks. In fact, it just reminds them that they, too, were victimized, and rubs their faces in the fact that they will never be recompensed for their treatment after the war.
For those of you now foaming at the mouth, let me make it clear that I in no way condone slavery, I in now way condone white (or any other color) supremacy movements, I in no way condone hatred or unnecessary violence. I am merely attempting to explain why "The South" is still an entity, and why many Southerners see things as they do.
[1] people
[2] War Between the States, a.k.a, The Civil War
[3] How many ships were "impressed" by the British before the War of 1812? Patience (even over-patience) with aggression is hardly a modern policy with the USA.
Last updated: 29 May 2001Copyright 2001 Miles O'Neal, Round Rock, TX. All rights reserved. Miles O'Neal <roadkills.r.us@XYZZY.gmail.com> [remove the "XYZZY." to make things work!] c/o RNN / 1705 Oak Forest Dr / Round Rock, TX / 78681-1514