Redneck. What a controversial word. This word is typically utilized in describing people from certain parts of the south. Do southerner's "mind" this word? Some do, some do not. I will state as being a Southern woman born and raised in Southeastern Kentucky, we indeed do not like this word. To call myself or anyone where I grew up this word, is indeed fighting words. I must state my honest opinion of this controversial word as well as state why I absolutely cringe when I hear people refer to themselves as "redneck".
A "redneck" in my understanding is someone who is illiterate, incestrous and outright stupid. Where I was raised to believe this was an insult one can only imagine my shock and dismay to leave Southeastern Kentucky and hear so many people refer to themselves as "redneck". I actually researched this word and here are some of the things I found, sad to say, most of what I found was not positive hence backing up my upbringing of believing it was a horrible term to call anyone.
The term "redneck" actually dates back to the Civil War. Rednecks were white people in the South who were too poor to own slaves. The poor were often uneducated and looked down upon by the upper class. They were so poor they had to perform their own labors, they would often get sunburns on the back of their neck, hence the term "redneck". It is also rumored to have originated even back to the Colonial Times within America as a reference to the Scottish/Irish indentured servants that worked in the fields. Since they could not afford to buy collars for their shirts which were actually seperate, their necks would get burned by the sun, this was definitely not an endearment term, even back in Colonial Days. By the time the Revolution within America rolled around, they dropped this term and utilized the more polite "term" Hillbilly. Where "Hillbilly" is not a good term either, Hillbilly is a derogatory slang term utilized toward people from the Appalachian Mountains, which of course is my origin. Where we do not mind "calling one another "Hillbillies", we do not appreciate anyone outside of the Appalachians referencing us as such, do not ask me why, but defense mode kicks in automatically.
To me, "redneck" is equivalent to many other derogatory terms. As you can see from what I have written as well as researched, "redneck" overall is not viewed as a positive thing, hence why it totally amazes me when people proudly proclaim they are "rednecks". Fighting the stigma of where I grew up, with the southern drawl as well as "country ways", there is no way I personally would allow anyone to call me this term unless of course they wanted to fight or be made to feel totally ignorant for calling me as such.
If you are proud to be called "redneck", this is definitely up to each individual, no disrespect is meant in any way if you enjoy this term, but what I would like to view is people who do not mind this word to actually know the true meaning of this word, then you can each make your own decision in deciding if you still want to reference yourself as such. We "Southern People" have so much to overcome as it is, why buy into the "redneck" drama when we can instead opt for being referenced as someone who is educated or someone with good old common sense.
Please contemplate the term "redneck" before you reference yourself as such. I personally feel that when people refer to themselves as such a derogatory term, it's not only making yourself look bad, but it brings all Southerners down and I would like to see more Southerners take on this responsibility. We may talk funny, we may even act funny as compared to the rest of the world, but don't ever mistake this for lack of intelligence or ignorance for some very talented writers as well as others derive from the South. "Redneck" is not a state of mind. "Redneck" is not a way of life. "Redneck" is a slang term for ignorance and please remember that each and every time you call yourself Redneck, you are buying into the public's stereotypes and how society views Southern People.
Source: www.articletrader.com
