We wear shoes in Mississippi! If we want to! LOL. I don't believe we are decades behind the rest of the U.S. Though there are many rural areas, we have cities also. Some Mississippians have never set an unshod toe on a farm!
Not all of speak with a drawl (though I probably do!). And typically "movie" southern accents are horribly inaccurate!!
I think education is very important here and my public school education was excellent. It is true though if there is a disaster the news crew is certain to find a toothless, bedraggled and generally pitiful specimin of humanity to represent us. Does that happen in your state?