Why do people think that just because your from the South you are racist hillbilly?

As a proud southerner it really annoys me how they say that. Yess people down here fly the confederate flag, not because they are racist nut because it is a symobl of southern pride. Its offensive how they think we are all uneducated racist hicks. People even think the big cities are hicks. I live in a big city and we are most certainly not hicks. All yall haters can shut your mouth.