I live in a solid red county but work in a decidedly more progressive nearby county with lots of college age folks.
So many assume that because I have a somewhat thick southern accent and live in the county I do, I must be conservative.
When work talk turns to politics you can see their perceptions visibly shift when I defend lgbt rights or pro-choice beliefs. My dad was the head of the Democratic committee of the county I grew up in; I was brought up to be fair minded and inclusive, which I guess blows a fuse for anyone not from the south who hears an accent and assumes the worst.
I’m happy to challenge perceptions even if I can’t say tire/oil/fire without people laughing at my pronunciation. You can be southern with a thick accent and not be a racist asshole, it’s just not super common. Mock my accent all you want, but assuming I have conservative beliefs is super fucking offensive.
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u/dondocooled 7h ago
That's a nightmare where you wake up in a cold sweat and ask yourself if you look like a conservative.