North Carolina and its residents are many things—they’re diverse, unique, and dynamic. Despite all this variety, though, stereotypes about the state and the people who live there still exist—and what makes them funny is that there’s a bit of truth to them. And because North Carolinians understand self-deprecation, we’re willing to laugh at ourselves.
While they can’t all be accurate, we also can’t reject every assumption people have about life in the Tar Heel State. From Southern drawls to our staunch belief that North Carolina is inherently better than South Carolina, here are five common North Carolina stereotypes that actually ring true.
1. We are a state divided by BBQ styles
When it comes to NC barbecue, two words stand out: Lexington and Eastern. These refer, of course, to the predominant styles of pork ’que we make. Here, BBQ means pork, not beef. And you won’t find any thick, syrupy sauces in the Tar Heel State either—our two primary sauces are both thin and vinegar-based.
The eponymously named Lexington-style BBQ (aka Western-style) uses pork shoulder and a sauce made with vinegar, spices like red pepper flakes and brown sugar, and a touch of ketchup for a tangy, tomato-y taste. Eastern-style BBQ, in contrast, is also spiced and vinegar-based, but it contains no ketchup and also features meat from whole hogs. And yes, I know mustard-based South Carolina-style sauces are also offered here, but like a true Tar Heel, I recognize Lexington and Eastern styles reign supreme.
2. We sound a little bit country
Ask someone not from North Carolinians to explain what we sound like when we talk, and you’re likely to hear a slow spoken drawl with “vowel breaking,” where a short vowel sound gets stretched into two syllables (e.g., “pin” can sound like a two-syllable word).
The subject of North Carolina accents came to the fore with Season 3 of HBO’s “The White Lotus.” The main characters of the season, a family from Durham, sparked a national debate among locals and linguists alike over the credibility of their accents.
So not all North Carolinians sound country, of course, but many of us, myself included, have strong Southern accents. And while the accents throughout the state aren’t all “country,” they are definitely diverse. In fact, one of the coolest things about NC, to me, is that we are one of—if not the—most linguistically rich states in the country.
3. Biscuits and cornbread are our breads of choice
Sure, we have sliced bread like every other state. But when it comes to bread in North Carolina, we tend to go for biscuits or cornbread. Biscuits are frequently enjoyed as handheld breakfast items, like bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits, or on a plate doused with gravy.
Suppers in North Carolina, on the other hand, tend to be served with a steaming hot cake of cornbread. Humble and hearty, Southern cornbread showcases the taste of the corn, and goes well with everything from BBQ to soup beans and collard greens. Naturally, North Carolina purists like me know there’s no place for sugar in cornbread.
4. Our disdain for South Carolina unites us
There’s a reason we refer to ourselves as the Original or Superior Carolina and have been known to call South Carolina “Suck Carolina.”
Whether it’s SC’s deteriorating roads, the mustard-based BBQ sauce, the passion for college football over college basketball, or the more rural and conservative feel of the state, North Carolinians know we are simply the best.
And unlike South Carolina, which is a solidly red, conservative state, NC has the distinction of being a purple swing state.
5. We live and breathe college basketball
As the home to Duke, North Carolina (UNC), NC State, and Wake Forest, basketball dominance is interwoven into the fabric of our lives. In fact, UNC is tied for the third-most national championships in men’s college basketball history and holds a record 21 Final Four appearances. No wonder it’s not uncommon when meeting new folks to be asked which team you support.
Fun fact: as a child in the 80s, I remember classes being canceled so the teacher could wheel the TV out for us to watch the NCAA playoffs. I will never forget the pride and awe I felt watching Michael Jordan help the Tar Heels win the NCAA Championship in 1982. And yes, Jordan is and will forever be the GOAT.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Related: 10 stops on North Carolina’s literary trail
