I rather fear that I, myself, did not question many of the stereotypes and stories that folks in other parts of the country use to represent the American South. Moving to Alabama has been a lesson in history and perseverance, and I have met many great people here.

My friend, Jona, sent us a real estate listing for a homestead here twelve years ago. We could not imagine ourselves outside of the west at that time. We have remained friends all these years, and last year the subject came up again of moving to Alabama. My first question was (I am ashamed to say), “Isn’t everyone prejudice there?” Let’s just call that Myth #1. Prejudice remains around the world by lack of understanding and pure ignorance and it goes all different ways. Every race and color has people that hate them just for being that color and race. I experienced that first hand growing up in the west. Here in Alabama, there is a lovely melting pot of colors and backgrounds and mixed races and histories. I have met the nicest people here. Folks here have the best manners, the sweetest demeanors, and will do anything to help out another. So, no, not everyone is prejudice.

Myth #2. It’s a doozy. Just last week, when we were visiting Colorado, I was sitting next to one of our kinfolk. Bless his heart. He saw my grandson’s adorable buck teeth and said, “He probably looks like your neighbor!” I looked at him blankly. “What?” “You know,” he continued, “Buck teeth? Your neighbor probably has a banjo!” “WHAT?” He was serious, even though he was joking. The redneck, back woods, banjo playing stereotype is alive and well and I am horrified by it. My neighbors moved here from California. She is Hispanic, her husband is from Germany. We have the sweet Mormon medical student family across the street. The young women sharing the house next door. Nope, no banjos. Too bad, I love banjo music. As far as I can tell, all their teeth look fine. I have met the most educated, well spoken, creative, and talented people here.

There are banjos here. Bluegrass and country music is alive and well here. We are two hours south of Nashville. I thought we had a lot of music in the west. No ma’am, no sir, the music is here. And it is brilliant.

There are a few remaining buildings from the early 1800’s- even 1700’s- that the Union used or somehow did not get burnt to the ground. The American South was burned to the ground, y’all. I hear folks from other parts of the country who rejoice when statues are taken down or who shutter at any pride of being from the south. North Alabama was actually on the Union side, but was still burned down by the Yankees! War is never a good thing, and it was absolutely devastating here.

But didn’t everyone have slaves? Where are we, Myth #3 or #4? No, hardly anyone had slaves. Who could afford slaves? Most of the people in the south were simple families with small shanties, a garden, a well, and a love of the land. During the Civil War, the men were drafted into the military, and the women were left here alone with their children. I don’t have to tell you what happens next, because the atrocities of war happen because no one will be blamed, and it happened to the women here too. Their homes were then burnt to the ground. My friend, Lisa, told me a story about her family during that time. The Union soldiers came through and her gr. grandmother begged the soldiers not to burn down their home. She had her little boy hiding under the floor of the house with one chicken. The Union soldiers made an exception and after they burned the crops and killed the animals, they salted the well. Slow deaths to innocent people. But they survived.

The people down here are proud. My own family from Alabama headed west during the Civil War. The families that stayed are resilient and love this land here. Black and White both.

The American South is filled with people from all walks of life. From all parts of the country. Alabama is filled with music and poetry, great writers, great chefs, great people. The forests, the gorgeous blue rivers, the land that holds on despite progress and suburbs, is lush and forgiving. Filled with wildlife and birdsong. It is sustaining here in the south.

And there are plenty of dentists here too. Imagine that.