Those "root causes" do need to be addressed. One challenge is that the South has a deep history of a one-step-forward-two-steps-back progress.

An obvious example: Some political scientists blame the spike in white supremacist activity in part on the election of the first black president. The progress was followed by a furious backlash that led to things like the United the Right march in Charlottesville.

A minor point on which I may disagree with you: I distinguish between neo-Confederates (bad) and hillbillies (neutral). Dolly Parton grew up as a hillbilly in the hollers of Tennessee.