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Does the term redneck refer to a culture or race?

What does redneck refer to

  • Total voters
    75
1069 said:
All I can say is, if you're brown, I hope you never visit the all-white town of Vider, Texas. Especially not after dark.

There is plenty of systematic racial discrimination going on in plenty of isolated pockets all over the south.
Less in the large cities, more in rural areas and small towns.
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You've identified the problem, it is isolated.

Now we understand that the majority of people don't hold those views and that to constantly berate a group of people for the past mistakes of their parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc is non productive for moving forward with racial tolerance.
 
hazlnut said:
Redneck originally referred to southern white farmers working in the sun, getting the back of their neck burned.

Now it has many connotations - white trash, trailer trash, unsophisticated southern whites, uneducated poor whites. It's both a class distinction--lower income whites mostly south and southwest, and a derogatory term for the south.

It's also associated (in an overgeneralized way) with bigotry.
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The first documented use of the term was in West Virginia, during the coal mine strikes in the 20's.

I don't care what anyone thinks, it's a racial slur and until all racism is eradicated, racism will always exist. Trust me, you Leftists aren't making any friends by condoning this kind of language towards whites.
 
FilmFestGuy said:
But "Southern" isn't a race. It's a geographically-based culture and is, in and of its self, multi-racial. So "redneck" can't be a racist term.

So, in a way, you've proven my point.
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Anytime "Redneck" is used to describe someone who isn't white, there is a qualifier to inform the listener that you are not referring to a white person.

He was a Black redneck, a Spanish Redneck.

It is most definitely a reference to white people unless the qualifier is added.
Like calling a person a "whigger", the term is derived from "nigger" but is in reference to a white person.
 
1069 said:
All I can say is, if you're brown, I hope you never visit the all-white town of Vider, Texas. Especially not after dark.
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I was in Vider last week and saw all kinds of brown people, even after dark.

There is plenty of systematic racial discrimination- and systematically condoned racial violence- going on in plenty of isolated pockets all over the south.
Less in the large cities, more in rural areas and small towns.
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There's no less racism in cities than there is in rural areas. That hasn't been my observation, anyway. When I was in the service, the most racist soldiers were from places like Chicago, New York, Detroit and L.A.
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
So it's ok to make broad based insulting remarks because some people wave confederate flags?
Of course the majority of us "Rednecks" have never and will never use race as a way to discriminate against people and that the majority of us were never involved in violent segregation policies.

By all means though, if you can't let go of the past, it will show me that the truly ignorant hold a grudge against people who didn't do anything and they do it for decades.
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But why do those waving the flag keep waving it when people say, "I find that offensive."

You can't claim to be offended at "redneck" when you keep putting a symbol that represents racism to many people in front of their faces even as you say it's not racist.

You're doing the same thing as The_Patriot. You're claiming that you get to define all words and symbols your way and everyone else be damned.
 
spud_meister said:
its obviously a race, rednecks are genetically inferior to normal people :mrgreen:
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Before you go so far as to make that claim, you must remember that the southern states--that is, the former Confederate states--have carried the load in every war this country has ever fought. So, ultimately, you owe southerners your freedom.
 
FilmFestGuy said:
But "Southern" isn't a race. It's a geographically-based culture and is, in and of its self, multi-racial. So "redneck" can't be a racist term.

So, in a way, you've proven my point.
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Post documentation where someone used redneck to refer to someone who isn't white.
 
Nowhere does it say we have a right to not be offended.

I hear and see things that offend me every damn day. Mostly I walk on and go on about my business.

In another thread, a month or two ago, I explained in detail why many Southerners view the Stars and Bars as a symbol of regional and cultural pride, and not as a symbol of racism (let alone slavery). I won't go into all that again, look it up if you like.

Yes, I'm aware that many people choose to view it as a symbol of racism. That would be why I don't usually fly it myself, but I support the right of any Southerner who is flying it as a symbol of heritage, not hate, to do so.
 
apdst said:
Before you go so far as to make that claim, you must remember that the southern states--that is, the former Confederate states--have carried the load in every war this country has ever fought. So, ultimately, you owe southerners your freedom.
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Got any proof to your hyperbole?

Oh, and in 1861 those states didn't want any American to have freedom.
 
Why does the poll not offer "both"? :confused:
 
Cardinal said:
Why does the poll not offer "both"? :confused:
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Because I wanted people to make a hard choice and allowing both would be a copout I felt.
 
Your Star said:
IMO people who wave the Confederate flag are no better than people who display the Nazi swastika in a place of honor.
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Using your criteria then Old Glory is no better than the Nazi Swastika. Slavery and genocide are attached to Old Glory. The Confederate flag only had slavery attached to it. My family fought and died for the Confederate flag because of the Union army raping, killing, and stealing from them then burned down the family farm in 1861. Old Glory is just like the Nazi Swastika if you include the rapes, murders, stealing, and burning down of entire towns by the Union Army.
 
apdst said:
Post documentation where someone used redneck to refer to someone who isn't white.
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Well, there are similar pejoratives in spanish: paleto. pueblerino. Even "indio" is sometimes used as a pejorative for someone who is acting like an unsophisticated country bumpkin.

These words aren't typically used to describe white people.
I'm sure every race, ethnic group, culture, and language has words that translate to "yokel" or "ignorant, low-class country bumpkin", even when no white people are present.
 
Goshin said:
Nowhere does it say we have a right to not be offended.

I hear and see things that offend me every damn day. Mostly I walk on and go on about my business.

In another thread, a month or two ago, I explained in detail why many Southerners view the Stars and Bars as a symbol of regional and cultural pride, and not as a symbol of racism (let alone slavery). I won't go into all that again, look it up if you like.

Yes, I'm aware that many people choose to view it as a symbol of racism. That would be why I don't usually fly it myself, but I support the right of any Southerner who is flying it as a symbol of heritage, not hate, to do so.
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I personally have less a problem with the Stars and Bars than many do. In fact, I find it much less intimidating in the South than I do in the North - because you can pretty much know the motivation of a Northerner flying it; where you can't necessarily know in the South.

That said, I'm trying to point out the irony of how one side is trying to say: Don't use redneck. It's offensive. And while doing so, proudly using a symbol that is equally offensive to others.

It's one side trying to claim the right to define every word and symbol.

My flag isn't racist if you think it is. Redneck is offensive, even if you say you mean no offense by it.

Do you see?
 
The_Patriot said:
Using your criteria then Old Glory is no better than the Nazi Swastika. Slavery and genocide are attached to Old Glory. The Confederate flag only had slavery attached to it. My family fought and died for the Confederate flag because of the Union army raping, killing, and stealing from them then burned down the family farm in 1861. Old Glory is just like the Nazi Swastika if you include the rapes, murders, stealing, and burning down of entire towns by the Union Army.
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Except for the fact that it was your side that committed treason in the first place.

It is - to many - a symbol of treason and racism. You can think what you will of the American flag. It's your right. But you have to know that many people find the Stars and Bars offensive.

So why do you continue to show it - saying that it doesn't mean what we think it means; but then complain about "redneck" as being offensive?

Again, why do you get to set all the terms here?
 
FilmFestGuy said:
But why do those waving the flag keep waving it when people say, "I find that offensive."

You can't claim to be offended at "redneck" when you keep putting a symbol that represents racism to many people in front of their faces even as you say it's not racist.

You're doing the same thing as The_Patriot. You're claiming that you get to define all words and symbols your way and everyone else be damned.
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The meaning behind the usage is how I define it.
When people use the generalized insult "Redneck" to refer to the near entirety of the South.
They are doing so in a manner to insult and belittle those who live there based on racial/cultural/historical/elitist reasons.

When a person waves a Confederate flag, their intent is, largely, not about enslaving Black people.

There is a difference and it's totally about the intent behind the usage.
What message is the user of the speech trying to reflect with their usage?
 
Goshin said:
In another thread, a month or two ago, I explained in detail why many Southerners view the Stars and Bars as a symbol of regional and cultural pride, and not as a symbol of racism (let alone slavery). I won't go into all that again, look it up if you like.

Yes, I'm aware that many people choose to view it as a symbol of racism. That would be why I don't usually fly it myself, but I support the right of any Southerner who is flying it as a symbol of heritage, not hate, to do so.
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Oh yes, the its our heritage argument. Let me tell you thats bull. I'm a southerner,and I know my family's heritage, and it's not one I'm proud of. My family weren't abolitionist fighting to free the slaves, they were slave owners. My family owned a large amount of slaves back in the day, and I wouldn't say that is something that I want to honor. I love living in Georgia, and I love Atlanta, but I'm not going to equate my love of where I live now with that flag, and use that as a symbol of the south. It was a symbol of racism, hatred, and treason. Any patriotic American would never fly the Confederate flag, because the CSA almost destroyed our country.
 
Your Star said:
Got any proof to your hyperbole?

Oh, and in 1861 those states didn't want any American to have freedom.
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It's a well-known fact that proportionally, far more military personnel enlist from the Southern states than any other region of the US. Look it up.

Your second sentence is completely fallacious. The causes of the Civil War were complex and slavery was only one of many.
 
Redneck pretty much refers to a subculture within the larger White community. They are largely blue collar, listen to Country Music, often hunt and fish, often eschew big cities, feeling more at ease in a more country like setting. They like Nascar and enjoy snowmobiles, dirtbikes, ATVs, and Jetskis. They also drink a lot of beer and/or hard liquor. Hard drug of choice, for those who indulge in such things, would be meth. Pot smoking is tolerated.
 
FilmFestGuy said:
Except for the fact that it was your side that committed treason in the first place.

It is - to many - a symbol of treason and racism. You can think what you will of the American flag. It's your right. But you have to know that many people find the Stars and Bars offensive.

So why do you continue to show it - saying that it doesn't mean what we think it means; but then complain about "redneck" as being offensive?

Again, why do you get to set all the terms here?
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Did the colonies commit treason against England? No, so by that same standard neither did the south. By using your own standard Old Glory is a symbol of racism, treason, and genocide. I hope you didn't forget about incidents like Wounded Knee and Trail of Tears, of which my Cherokee ancestors were forced march, all under the auspices of Old Glory.
 
They also drink a lot of beer and/or hard liquor. Hard drug of choice, for those who indulge in such things, would be meth.
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Don't forget OxyContin, aka "Redneck Heroin". :lol:
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
The meaning behind the usage is how I define it.
When people use the generalized insult "Redneck" to refer to the near entirety of the South.
They are doing so in a manner to insult and belittle those who live there based on racial/cultural/historical/elitist reasons.

When a person waves a Confederate flag, their intent is, largely, not about enslaving Black people.

There is a difference and it's totally about the intent behind the usage.
What message is the user of the speech trying to reflect with their usage?
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So, when someone referred to racist shouts at the mural in Arizona as "redneckitude", you're saying that they implied it toward the entire South. When, of course, they were referring to racist individuals in Arizona.

We can enter a rhetorical discussion here. I'm glad to. But rhetorical studies will tell you that intended message is only half of communication. How you are perceived by your audience is equally as important in communication.

You can claim your intent all you like, but if you're not convincing your audience that the Stars and Bars aren't racist, then you're failing in your attempts to communicate. If those who would like the flag to be inclusive of Southern culture in general, then there would be Southern blacks and Southern Indians flying it proudly, too.

It's about White regional pride. And that makes it racist.
 
Your Star said:
Oh yes, the its our heritage argument. Let me tell you thats bull. I'm a southerner,and I know my family's heritage, and it's not one I'm proud of. My family weren't abolitionist fighting to free the slaves, they were slave owners. My family owned a large amount of slaves back in the day, and I wouldn't say that is something that I want to honor. I love living in Georgia, and I love Atlanta, but I'm not going to equate my love of where I live now with that flag, and use that as a symbol of the south. It was a symbol of racism, hatred, and treason. Any patriotic American would never fly the Confederate flag, because the CSA almost destroyed our country.
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Again, a very narrow perspective.

I've studied the civil war very carefully. The primary causes and issues were economics and political power. Northeastern states dominated Congress and wanted to enact tariffs and other restrictions on trade that would destroy the south economically. Southern states responded by challenging Fedgov power, declaring provisions they considered intolerable "null and void" within their borders.

Slavery was actually more of a side-issue, until Lincoln decided to make it a "causus belli", a propaganda tool to demonize the opposition and make the war seem like a glorious fight of good against evil, rather than its real causes: the greed of various Northern industrial and shipping concerns, and the desire of certain political figures to make the central government supreme over the states.

Learn a little history.
 
I'll ask everyone here this question.

Do we think using terms like "kike" and other pejoratives against Jews is acceptable, when Jews are largely defined as a cultural/religious group?
For all intents they are considered white as well.
 
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