The word "Redneck"

[Coyote]

I was doing some research on the miner's strikes of the 1920's and 30's and found that the word comes from the red scarves/bandanas that the militant, unionized miners wore around there necks.

Does anyone else wish we could take the word back?

[Blackscare]

well most people here think it's a classist word that only dillholes use, which is mostly the case.

Didn't know about that mining shit, thats pretty cool.

[Coyote]

Yeah, I thought it was pretty neat as well. I got that from "When Miners March", as well as wikipedia, haha.

[Tablo]

The term redneck refers to poor farm workers specifically. Doesn't have to do with red scarves/bandanas. It has to do with a sunburned neck.

[Red Commissar]

The term redneck refers to poor farm workers specifically. Doesn't have to do with red scarves/bandanas. It has to do with a sunburned neck.

That usage predates the one in the op, but the OP is right as well, for a time in some areas also referred to miners who attempted to form unions as "red necks" since they identified with each other using red cloths.

[Tablo]

That usage predates the one in the op, but the OP is right as well, for a time in some areas also referred to miners who attempted to form unions as "red necks" since they identified with each other using red cloths.
That makes sense. I think different regions may have different historical usages of the term. I'm from the southeast so we probably relate to the term differently than those in places like West Virginia where mining is bigger.

[Hebrew Hammer]

I forget who told me this but I remember being told this awhile ago, always thought it was a shame that such a cool historical term nowadays refers to things like Larry the Cable Guy and all this. Which follows into this post...


That makes sense. I think different regions may have different historical usages of the term. I'm from the southeast so we probably relate to the term differently than those in places like West Virginia where mining is bigger.

The story I was told about all this is a bunch of miners wearing red bandanas marched to Charleston on strike.

[Tablo]

That makes sense. Lot of places have had mining in the past. Just thought of West Virginia since they seem to be know for mining now days.

Kinda random, but I used to have an abandoned coal mine behind my families old house. It had been purposely caved in after coal kinda lost its value(I guess due to natural gas and oil). It is still cool cause I would run around collecting coal and rail spikes as a little kid. There were even some old rusted tracks. :)

[Landsharks eat metal]

I have to admit that I use this term disparagingly. I do not intend it as classist when I use it because to me, it refers to a very specific type of person who does not actually have to be poor or a farmer, but they wish they were. I almost never use the term "redneck" unless I attach the word "racist" to the front of it, even though, the way I use it, that is redundant. To me, rednecks are specifically racist, hate the rich in order to appear cool, and think education is elitist, hating anyone who is going/has gone to college.

I don't know if this is an unusual use of the term, but it is unfortunate that it has such a negative connotation either way.

[praxis1966]

That makes sense. Lot of places have had mining in the past. Just thought of West Virginia since they seem to be know for mining now days.

Near as I can tell, using the term in re unionizing/unionized miners and the scarves they wore around their necks did in fact originate in West Virginia specifically, so you were more correct than you probably surmised. I would then point you to the example of what's referred to in common parlance as "The Battle of Blair Mountain," which took place there back in '21... Literally, thousands of striking coal miners from the "red neck" tradition, as it were, shot it out in a gun battle between themselves, police and "detectives" [read: mercenaries] from the Baldwin-Felts agency.


I have to admit that I use this term disparagingly. I do not intend it as classist when I use it because to me, it refers to a very specific type of person who does not actually have to be poor or a farmer, but they wish they were. I almost never use the term "redneck" unless I attach the word "racist" to the front of it...

I find the phrase "stupid fucking cracker" achieves the same purpose without the same classist connotations. Plus, it's a lot of fun to say when you're white. :lol:

[Hebrew Hammer]

Near as I can tell, using the term in re unionizing/unionized miners and the scarves they wore around their necks did in fact originate in West Virginia specifically, so you were more correct than you probably surmised. I would then point you to the example of what's referred to in common parlance as "The Battle of Blair Mountain," which took place there back in '21... Literally, thousands of striking coal miners from the "red neck" tradition, as it were, shot it out in a gun battle between themselves, police and "detectives" [read: mercenaries] from the Baldwin-Felts agency.

Not sure if it involved the red bandana crew but the Battle of Matewan also, in 1920 was pretty brutal.


I find the phrase "stupid fucking cracker" achieves the same purpose without the same classist connotations. Plus, it's a lot of fun to say when you're white. :lol:

Even better when you're not. ;)

[praxis1966]

Not sure if it involved the red bandana crew but the Battle of Matewan also, in 1920 was pretty brutal.

Well, Blair Mountain's in Logan County which shares a border with Mingo County. Matewan's in Mingo. Considering the two events were only a year apart and basically happened right next door to one another I think it's a pretty safe assumption that they were at least related...


Even better when you're not. ;)

U5KeXgli768

[Agent Ducky]

Yeah. But we're never getting our word back from them conservatives. Nope, nope.

[Hebrew Hammer]

Well, Blair Mountain's in Logan County which shares a border with Mingo County. Matewan's in Mingo. Considering the two events were only a year apart and basically happened right next door to one another I think it's a pretty safe assumption that they were at least related...

Yeah, I don't know much about all that so, just things I've heard, plus I saw the movie.


U5KeXgli768

Point taken but what I'm saying is, when you're being called all these racist names there is very few truly gratifying things you can say in response.

[praxis1966]

Point taken but what I'm saying is, when you're being called all these racist names there is very few truly gratifying things you can say in response.

Aw You misunderestimate (<---favorite Bushism) me. I was actually just trying to be funny... I actually prefer to be called "white" or "wonderbread" or something like that. What I hate, actually, is being called "Anglo" because I ain't English. But y'know, that's just the plastic paddy in me talking. Anyway, the guy who wrote that song is Jewish, hence the mention of his circumcision. He's basically saying that he hates being lumped in with all the other stupid, racist white people on the planet.