Southern Identity Fading, but not Disappearing

I agree with the article that southern identity is shrinking. I feel that in a time when people are constantly migrating and traveling and when technology makes revolutionary changes to the way we live, the southern identity is being expressed less and less. Although I have lived in the south for about six years, I was still not sure what being “southern” really meant until I took this English course. I have a friend who has lived in the south all her life, but I would not have known that she is a southerner if she did not tell me. She does not have a southern accent and does not show any particular signs that indicate that she is a southerner. Now and in the future, I believe one would have to put forth more effort to find a “true southerner.”

Although southern identity is shrinking, I do not believe that the southern identity will ever be forgotten or will ever completely disappear in the future. We are constantly reminded about what it means to be southern through media, entertainment, and food. For my visual analysis project, I found an article written by Beth Latshaw called “Food for Thought.” In the article, Beth Latshaw examines how southern food is associated with the culture, history, and traditions of southerners and how food is part of cultural identity. Latshaw quotes southern writer John Egerton in her article: “In a time of declining regional identity, when southern accents and lifestyles become increasingly rare, southern food is one of few authentic southern artifacts that survives.” There is so much tradition and culture linked to southern food. Food plays a role in defining one’s heritage, tradition, and identity.

Because I am not really southern, I do not eat a lot of southern food and am not familiar with any southern restaurants. However, one of my group project members used a commercial for Corky’s BBQ restaurant as his artifact for his visual analysis project, and I thought the restaurant provided a very accurate representation of the southern identity (the commercial is embedded below). The restaurant serves mainly barbeque dishes, and barbeque is extremely popular in the south. The commercial also placed great emphasis on family and friends, and southerners are known to be friendly and very family-orientated. The waiters and waitresses all seem very warm and welcoming, representing the southern hospitality that the south is well-known for.

In conclusion, I believe that southern identity is indeed shrinking due to changing times but I do not believe that the identity will not be forgotten or disappear.



**Source:
LATSHAW, BETH A. "Food for Thought." Southern Cultures 15.4 (2009): 106-128. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 Jan. 2010.
(This article can only be previewed when you sign in your GT account).