Arguably, working people (and students) may appreciate that a relatively privileged person has made sacrifices in solidarity, though I do agree it is no worse than the way many working people are treated.

“I’m a professor!” Was certainly a naive thing to say. “I’m not a professor!” is almost invariably a safer thing to say, particularly in the deep south.

And yes, in case it needs to be said (probably not), the deep south is still the deep south.