TO NORTH CAROLINA, WITH LOVE

What living in the South means to me

(This weekend, like many other people, I spent numerous hours glued to my phone looking at the damage Hurricane Helene left in Western North Carolina. The devastation, the loss, the ache in my heart for my beautiful state and its locals is insurmountable. During times of trouble such as this, I like to think of the good things. So, I felt inspired to take the time to share my love and appreciation for the place I grew up in and why it means so much to me, as it does to so many other people during this time. I hope my story will resonate with some of you, and raise awareness for this magical place that I call home <3 )

There is just nothing quite like North Carolina. Its natural beauty is a reflection of the state’s soul—a place that blends tradition with natural wonders, creating a sense of home that stays with you, no matter where you go. Born and raised in Greensboro, NC, I was fortunate enough to grow up visiting the strong beauty of the Appalachian Mountains firsthand, a region that embodies the rugged, natural charm of the South. 

I love nothing more than going on scenic drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the fall when the Blue Ridge Mountains come alive in a spectacular display of color, with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows painting the hillsides as far as the eye can see. With its warm hospitality, slow-paced summers, and rich cultural heritage, the western part of NC has shaped my life in countless ways. While my roots were planted in Greensboro, they expanded far into the Asheville, NC area where my Papa grew up, and where some of my family still lives today. 

There's something special about feeling the crisp air of an Appalachian fall in Asheville or hearing cicadas sing on a humid evening in Blowing Rock. The landscape, the people, and the small-town simplicity all come together to create a sense of comfort for me. North Carolina’s beauty isn’t limited to the mountains, though. Along the coast, the Outer Banks stand as a testament to NC’s diverse natural landscapes. Some of my favorite memories from my childhood are filled with trips to Carolina Beach to visit my Gran and Granddaddy Jim, ferry rides into Southport for low country boils at the Provision Company, as well as summers with my cousins at my Nana and Papa’s old lake house on Badin Lake, and of course going to cheer on the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. From the winding rivers that cut through the lush forests to the expansive fields of wildflowers that stretch across the countryside, North Carolina just has it all and I’m willing to argue about that.

Yet, for all its beauty and charm, the South is often weighed down by stereotypes—images of slow, small-town living, conservative politics, and deeply rooted traditions that don’t always align with the progressive values I’ve come to hold dear. Growing up as a woman in a primarily liberal family in North Carolina, I often felt conflicted about how to balance my love for this place with the negative connotations that sometimes surround it.

The South, with all its complexity, is a place where history runs deep—where old wounds from the Civil War and segregation still linger in some corners, and where Southern hospitality is sometimes juxtaposed against political and social ideologies that feel at odds with inclusivity and change. I’ve often wrestled with the question: how do I, as someone who values progress and equality, find my place in a region that’s often stereotyped as resistant to both?

As I’ve grown up and formed my own thoughts and opinions about life, politics, and whatnot, I’ve worked to unpack what it means, at least for me, to be from the South. I wonder where I fit into the equation–where I identify with the place I grew up. Is it enough for me to enjoy my Nana’s homemade lovefeast buns and my dad’s pulled pork from the barbeque company he’s worked with for the past 26 years? Is it enough for me to enjoy bluegrass and Southern folk music? Is it enough to have a majority of my family being born and raised in the South? I was made to look at myself and wonder if these more superficial aspects of culture can be the basis for connecting with the idea of being southern, especially when I don’t have that southern twang in my voice. It’s easy for outsiders to write off the South as a powerhouse of backward thinking, but in truth, it’s a region as diverse and complex as anywhere else. My experiences growing up here have taught me that the South is not defined by a single narrative.

For me, this internal conflict is navigated through a deep understanding of where I come from and a willingness to hold onto the good while challenging the bad. I treasure my Nana’s homemade lovefeast buns and my dad’s famous pulled pork, not because they are tokens of a stereotype, but because they are expressions of love, family, and tradition. I listen to bluegrass and Southern folk music, not because it defines my politics, but because it tells stories that resonate with the landscapes and people I’ve grown up with. I’m super into watching sports because I was raised to cheer on the Tar Heels in any sport no matter how disappointing the outcome might be. After all, I was born bleeding Carolina Blue along with several of my family members who attended UNC. These experiences, these moments of connection, are what make me Southern in a way that feels authentic to who I am—not tied to outdated tropes, but rather a reflection of my journey in this place.

So, yes, I might not have that quintessential Southern drawl, and my political views may not align with what’s often associated with my region, but my Southern identity is more than these surface-level traits. It’s about navigating the spaces between tradition and progress, heritage and change. It’s about loving where I’m from while pushing it to be better, and realizing that being from the South doesn’t mean I have to fit into a narrow box. Instead, it means embracing the contradictions and carving out a space that’s true to me.

I love North Carolina. My heart will always find its way back to this beautiful state no matter where I end up in my future. Someday, I wish to possibly pursue my career in a bigger city that is outside of my comfort zone. An area like Boston, San Francisco, or New York City where I will have bigger and better opportunities for making connections in my career path. I might end up somewhere across the world, but still yearn for that familiar chirping of cicadas during the humid southern summers, or watching the leaves change color every fall in the Appalachian mountains. This place, with all its history and imperfections, has given me roots and wings. It’s here that I learned how to be both proud of where I’m from and unafraid to challenge it—because loving the South means believing in its potential, not just its past. And for that, I will always be grateful for my beautiful home state of North Carolina. 

RESOURCES TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HELENE

Ways to Donate and Help Flood Victims —> https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYK88HyLbcDxRo1gq4_wlCr6uVkqi-3hS6U2TJeRDVjcg4K3TNEDofCpYY_aem_t0MB_uaAFrlwdBJTurJVSA

MANNA Foodbank in Asheville, NC —> https://www.mannafoodbank.org/#

American Red Cross North Carolina —> https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFm5H1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXLMW3460qvMEeW_IGinkEbqIVPdCSMNUQgaIlk2u7s5PM2mJEOcRiGDBw_aem_wruo2CeOBiWA8RvBz7bPbg

Salvation Army —> https://disaster.salvationarmyusa.org/articles/2024/09/26/the-salvation-army-of-the-carolinas-ready-to-serve-in-the-aftermath-of-helene

Operation Airdrop —> https://www.operation-airdrop.com/hurricane-helene

North Carolina Community Foundation —> https://www.nccommunityfoundation.org/news/hurricane-helene?fbclid=IwY2xjawFlGFFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSgN5jvkZxkvVs9oabiA6Ieh3eLwEvrZUgXp8Qfmu5_wByryBOY5LTqmA_aem_udMWhOtgmjeoEkTkZ1uVXA

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County —> https://www.unitedwayabc.org/news/hurricane-helene-relief-efforts

Live Updates on Western North Carolina flooding —> https://www.bpr.org/live-updates/live-blog-hurricane-helene-wnc