The Newcastle supporters keep trying to make everyone believe it's an insult, which it isn't .. ... just an ancient industrial reference and a pun on the different accents. At the time 'Mackem' originated there wasn't the same animosity between the two towns. The working people of the NE were basically in the same boat together. Most of the Mackems I know are happy with it and are proud of their accent. But, in reality, only half of Sunderland supporters are Mackems and that's being generous. I'm Durham, which is what I call myself, and there are loads of Geordies, Sandies, Pityackers, etc who support Sunderland. Not all Geordies are from Newcastle and many don't support them. Mackems & Geordies, portrayed as Sunderland & Newcastle, is just a convenient reference for Sky Sports I'm afraid.
Thats like the 3foot tall fakarwi tribe who live in 4foot grass they jump every so often and shout we're the fakarwi.
Loads of black and whites in washington mate. I'd say a 60/40 split in Sunderland's favour. It's similar in places like peterlee and penshaw. Conversely loads of Sunderland fans in tyneside like hebburn, jarra and south shields.
South Shields South Shields has always been 'red & white' and, hopefully, despite 'Curlypermmania' always will be