Why, thank you, kind sir! I would love some ice tay! Two lemons, please! Now, where was I?
It's not about the accent. I have lost a lot of mine, except for certain words/phrases. It comes back quickly after a few drinks or talking to a fellow Southerner for just a minute or two. I think I feel that the best way to protest/combat the stereotype is to be a proud, articulate, well-educated Southerner. Not ashamed or apologetic of our roots, but proud of them. Some folks here met my mom at the Kon. She was born in a shack in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia that had no electricity or running water. She walked off of the mountain about a mile, each day to attend school. After moving out on her own, marrying, having me, divorcing, then marrying the right guy, she got her Bachelor's Degree at a community college. She became an insurance agent and continued to expand her education until she retired several years ago. She cleans up right nice, don't she?
I think the point I am still stumbling to make is, yes, we all make snap judgments based on a person's appearance or accent. As many have mentioned, we must work to look beyond that. More importantly, however, if we are a victim of that stereotype, be it hillbilly, or a specific race or religion, etc., we have a responsibility to present a face to the world that contradicts that stereotype and forces the individual to question it themselves. Hope that makes sense.
Thank you for this! I will put
White Trash on my TBR list. Have you read
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance? He dives deep into the culture of Appalachia and it's communities struggles.
Thank you, and yep, I'm very proud of her. 
