Step 1) Take everything I said about Southerners and translate it into black people.
Step 2) Now take all the stereotypes we have thrown around about southerners and translate them into thier black counterpart
Step 3) Ask your question about black people
How many times have you heard some white guy say, "I know its a stereotype but its true about black people (being criminals/not having jobs/having babies out of wedlock/liking fried chicken/having various grotesque physical features)? Did you feel those people were making a compelling argument?
Look, the point is are some Southerners idiots? Do some love Nascar and drink too much beer and have a poor understanding of America, its governmental system and ideals? Do some wear wifebeaters and have mullets and beat their wives? Sure. Does John Edwards? Does he deserve to be painted with that brush? That is how bigotry works.
And I don't think you are a bigot at all. Just making a point.
I think there are bigotries we shine a white hot spotlight on and they whither and weaken (black) and some we acknowledge and they slip in the shadows but remain fairly strong (women, Mexicans) and those we completely ignore and those remain the same or even grow in power (Southerners in this case)