In Stereotypes

10 Memphis Stereotypes That Are Completely Accurate

Put down your barbeque, get out of church, and turn off the blues. It’s time for some Memphis sweetness.

Chris Kolmar

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1. Everyone In Memphis Is A Total Barbeque Snob

In Memphis, there’s only one right way to do barbeque: the Memphis way. There’s no room here for the Carolina style vinegar sauce or the thicker and sweeter garbage they serve in Kansas City. Low and slow with dry rub is the only way to live. People from Memphis are so into their barbeque that they’ll put it on anything that fits in their mouths. Pizza and nachos become just another delivery mechanism for that beautiful barbeque goodness .

2. In Memphis, Your High School Matters More Than Your College

The first question you ask everyone you meet is “Where did you go to school?” And everyone knows that you mean high school and not college. That’s because everyone in Memphis understands that the *real* school that matters is your high school. While the rest of the country is overly focused on bragging about what college they attended, Memphis keeps it local.

3. Listening To Jazz And The Blues Is A Way Of Life

Soul music is alive and well in Memphis. Institutions like the Stax Music Academy keep the rich heritage of memphis music going forward into the twenty-first century. There’s a legendary amount of music history in Memphis. Just some of the artists that made their mark include:

Aretha Franklin
Isaac Hayes
Otis Redding
Rufus Thomas
And Al Green

And really, what more would you expect from a place with the nickname “Blues City”?

4. People In Memphis Take The Right To Bear Arms Seriously

Memphis is proud to be a gun toting city. It’s not uncommon for someone to have a concealed weapons permit. Or to talk to someone that carries a gun in all of their cars. Yes, the multiple of car.

5. Memphians Only Eat Food That Has Been Fried Or Is Coated In Meat

Vegetarians don’t have a home in Memphis. I already mentioned Memphis’s love affair with barbeque and this an offshoot of that. While I would agree with the sentiment that everything tastes better fried; Memphis takes it to the next level. Thanksgiving vegetables are served with meat mixed in. Mac And Cheese has bacon. And everyone’s Grandma makes the best fried chicken you’ve ever had. If you’re not remembering your last Thanksgiving food coma now, you’re not a true Memphian.

6. Memphis Bleeds Tiger and Grizzlies Basketball

Basketball season is a way to tell the passage of time in Memphis. There’s summer, fall, and basketball season. And don’t even think about scheduling anything at the same time as a game. You need to schedule your life around basketball. Both basketball teams have a way to bring the whole city together. And that’s exactly what makes Memphis great.

7. Everyone In Memphis Takes Church Seriously

Memphis is a very religious town. Many people are very active in church and it’s part of the lifestyle. And they don’t just don’t do Church in Memphis. They do Megachurch. The Bellevue Baptist Church and Church Of God In Christ (C.O.G.I.C) are prime examples of religion in action in The River City.

8. No Matter How Fancy They Look, Memphians Are Southern To The Core

There are several country and southern traditions that everyone in Memphis lives by, no matter where they are in life: 1. Hanging out on the front porch is a pastime and a time to cherish. There’s nothing better than a sweet tea and a cool breeze to take the edge off the summer heat. You can just sit and swing back and forth… 2. Y’all is in the dictionary get over it. Along with y’all, you’ll also find “might could” and “should could” in the Memphis dictionary. That’s the beautiful thing about English, as long as everyone understands you, it doesn’t matter how you say it. Oh, and that reminds me that Memphians have an southern way of putting you down...

9. Everyone In Memphis Is So Nice That Compliments Are Actually Condescending

It’s common to be called one of 25 ‘pet names’ from people all across Memphis. The trick is to try and figure out if it’s meant as a simple hello or an insult. The names normally run anything that’s ‘sweet’ and include:

Pumpkin
Sugar
Sweet cakes
And hun

There’s an art to this and memphians, especially the women of Memphis, know how to say exactly what is on their mind and make it sound sweet. And that’s all because...

10. The Women Of Memphis Are Southern Belles

The women of Memphis are quintessential southern belles. They are a little flirtaious and they are proud of their curves. And to the men of Memphis, they don’t come any better. Just some of the great things to love about Memphis women: