When many individuals think of a dangerous word their minds automatically think of the words that they chose to omit when in the presence of children or words that are thought instead of spoken in formal places, but what about the words that sit along the fine line between appropriate and inappropriate? For example, the term redneck has a different meaning to those inside community versus that of those outside. This word is the most dangerous because it is looked down upon and praised at the same time. The term redneck should be socially acceptable in everyday language, because those who it describes take pride using it to describe themselves. The etymology of the term redneck, found in Oxford English Dictionary is describes as “a poorly …show more content…
Regionally the term is associated with Roman Catholics and the Irish (“redneck”). Historically the term redneck comes from many different places. The earliest use of the word is found in Scotland, where individuals rejected the acceptance of the Church of England as the official church. Those against this acceptance signed a document demanding the Presbyterian Church in their own blood; they also wore red scarves around their neck earning the name of redneck (Leland). The term was introduced to America through these same Scottish people who settled in many of the southern colonies (Wilkinson). In America rednecks are associated with southerners living in the Appalachian Mountains, the South, Ozarks, Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. They were poor, with little money or education and had lesser access to healthcare compared to other whites in American. Many of these individuals were sharecroppers, so the effects of the Dust Bowl were detrimental to their ways …show more content…
For example the Urban Dictionary states, “You would be a redneck if:… you mow your lawn and find a car… have more that one relative named after a Southern Civil War general… you own a homemade fur coat.” (Redneck Urban Dictionary). This definition doesn’t explain one person in particular, but instead a culture and a lifestyle. They take pride in where they life, what they like, their values and prize possessions. “They are proud of their pick-up trucks…” (Redneck Urban Dictionary) They are also very similar in their beliefs politically and racially. “ Rednecks tend to be socially conservative [and] closet racists.” (Redneck Urban Dictionary). These stubborn values associated with Rednecks is part of what makes them so proud as a people, because they stick to what they’ve known historically. This is also why outsiders look down on them, because they see their stubbornness as being small minded and
"You know you're from Kentucky if your house is mobile and your three cars aren't. " This is a joke my younger brother recited to me when I returned to my Yankee home from the University of Kentucky for Thanksgiving break. He went on to ask, "If a Kentucky couple gets divorced, are they still brothers and sisters?" The lists of redneck jokes surrounding Kentucky stereotypes are endless.
The language has been used in writing before and many books use this type of language so they can build a connection to the real world. It is vital for teens especially in 8th grade and above to learn how important it is to stray away from these potentially hurtful words and how this type of language can set a certain tone to a
At the end of the day, racism and prejudice will always exist in some form for whatever reason is most convenient. Additionally, it’s not as if fans of country music are all raging bigots who dream of segregation and a return to slavery-driven southern values. After all, there are plenty of ‘southern pride’ songs that don’t feature race, nativism, and are beloved by most without an ulterior message that is appreciated by Stormfront. After all, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama features anti-segregation lyrics. Charlie Daniels Band wrote and performed The Devil Went Down to Georgia, lyrically referencing the south as far as Georgia by name alone. Yet both of these are hailed as quintessentially southern pride songs, meaning that southern pride isn’t the same as white pride. The reason the comparison matters, then, is because there is a significant overlap between the two. It is certainly possible to enjoy country music without wishing for a return to Aryan values, and the majority of country music doesn’t advocate it. But enough popular songs feature nativism as a theme to the point that it shouldn’t be ignored. There is a tangible connection between Southern Pride and nativism through music, and a definite connection between nativism and the White Pride movement. Music connects people and spreads ideas; culturally relevant music tends to stay around for a lifetime. Music has power, and the power of hate music is not one that should be
...ain the “laid-back” attitude and shy away from social change. The irony of the political divide is the North is now Democratic and the South is Republican.
Scalawags and Carpetbaggers were terms used during the reconstruction period in the south. Scalawags were white southerners who supported the Republican Party. Scalawags consisted of the following persons, rich merchant owners, farmers who owned small amounts of land, and planters. During the old confederate period, most these people wanted a new south so they supported the reconstruction and abided in the changes concerning newly freed black slaves. Carpetbaggers were northern citizens who came to the south in terms to make a quick profit. The goals of the carpetbaggers were to encourage their new political power on the newly freed blacks. It was the goal of the northerners to help establish the freed slaves and improve their lives. It was the ideal of providing education, medications, food, and clothing for the blacks. The ideal was a success and was called the Freedmen’s bureau.
are simply meaningless words meant to damage, humiliate and degrade certain groups of people. To prove those words worthless, the same groups of people that those hate words
In American culture, the South has more or less been stereotyped and degraded in various ways, which naturally brings about a sense of defensiveness. The southerners stick together to defe...
Rednecks have been around for centuries, but what is a redneck? In today’s terminology, redneck is used as an insult towards many southerners. Originally, redneck was used to describe someone who has been outside working all day, and has developed sunburn on their neck. Due to modern day stereotypes, the word redneck has become an insult rather than a way to describe a hard worker. Through research and personal accounts, the history of the word redneck can be examined, the comparison of the “modern day” redneck and the old meaning, and the way it impacts certain groups, can be used to demolish modern day stereotypes. The word redneck should return to its original form and should not be used as an insult toward southerners.
order to be a redneck here, there are a few traits you must have, such as: a big
Social prejudice was another fact of life. Roughnecks were viewed by some people as poor, trailer park trash.
"TV's Most Offensive Words | Media | MediaGuardian." Latest News, Comment and Reviews from the Guardian | Guardian.co.uk. 25 Nov. 2005. Web. Dec. 2010. .
When a person that is not from here thinks of the South, they generally think of negative connotations that are tacked on to the South’s name. For example, in the movie it shows Forrest’s best friend Jenny, and her home life growing up. Jenny was shown as stereotypical “white trash” for growing up poor on a corn farm under the hand of an abusive father. When Jenny was taken from her father and placed into custody of her grandmother, the film shows how Jenny gets out of the police car and up to her grandmother’s trailer home. This shows the “white trash” stereotype of southerners rearing its ugly head into the story once more. Another contributor to the story’s southern stereotypes is how it showed Forrest’s mother as a cliché southern lady. She appears to be a well dressed, well educated, and sophisticated woman. She wears hats and fancy printed dresses with gloves, and is never shown doing manual labor other than what appears to be running a bed and breakfast at her home (cite 3). The last essence of cliché southern representations is the way Forrest is such a gentleman to Jenny. No matter what Jenny puts him through or says to Forrest, he remains loving and kind to her. A personal favorite example of this is when Jenny asks him, “Why are you so good to me?” with which Forrest quickly replies, “Because you’re my girl.” (cite 2). Though the stereotypes mentioned are not all necessarily negative, the book does portray how quick it is to assume these things as common to the
As vaudeville grew in the early 1900’s, it was mainly composed of northern performers. However, their example showed southern performers that one could make music playing in public. This realization spawned the first generation of “hillbilly” performers. The term “hillbilly” was popularized in the 1920’s after a musician by the name of Al Hopkins. He told his producer to name his band whatever he liked because they were just a bunch of hillbilly’s from North Carolina and Virginia.
In rural Appalachia, the Baptism and Christianity are main religions. Many families in this region go to the same church and have similar faiths. Revival, a popular form of teaching in this area, includes faith healing, hymn singing, hand waving toward the sky, spirited preaching, and speaking in tongues. There are stereotypes for this region’s religious practices. Uneducated and ignorant preachers, evangelists, holy rollers, and barefoot hillbillies are all examples of these cruel stereotypes. These stereotypes may be true for a select few, but many of these caricatures are untrue. The media, news, and literature are part of the blame for this. Their portrayal of this area has caused society to identify the Appalachians as southern and uneducated. Mocking people in this area is wrong and inaccurate. Another reason for this region being stereotyped is outside influences viewing their own religions as superior to the Appalachian religion. They are not open to other suggestions for their faith and therefore consider other denominations as incorrect.
My Great Grandparents on my grandma’s side all were from texas and pretty much all of my family is in texas. One of my great grandparents was Dennis Williams he worked as a roughneck which is a person who works at an oil rig. He married my great grandma Louise Warren who worked as a bartender and a waitress most of