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In reply to the discussion: A question about Racism (The term "Redneck") [View all]gollygee
(22,336 posts)12. It might be a bigoted statement
but racism is specifically about having societal power, and since people of color don't have societal power over white people, it isn't racist.
It is specifically about white people though. The term refers to poor white people who worked in agriculture, particularly in the south. The word came from the back of the neck getting red from working in fields out in the sun. So yes it is a bigoted word, and classist word, but it would not be racist since racism isn't just about an ugly word but is about societal power.
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I don't think so when you see so many white guys especially go out there and say they are rednecks
Arcanetrance
Nov 2013
#2
A Scotch immigrant is anyone coming here with a bottle of Glenfiddich
JustABozoOnThisBus
Nov 2013
#92
Ooops. I was thinking Scotch-Irish, but left off the Irish because it didn't apply.
Behind the Aegis
Nov 2013
#97
From a moral point of view there is no difference, if one is a bigot while out of power
Uncle Joe
Nov 2013
#15
That's only describing *institutional* racism, tho....and not all racism is institutional.
AverageJoe90
Nov 2013
#86
If it's used by an outsider to stereotype a group of people based on appearance,
Gormy Cuss
Nov 2013
#17
Racism is active - it's a mechanism of power usage, like Sexism. Bigotry is individual belief.
haele
Nov 2013
#35
I perceive racism as referring to an assumed sense of ethnic and/or racial superiority one group has
Douglas Carpenter
Nov 2013
#22
Look, "Redneck" is not a race. You can't be racist for calling someone a redneck - especially
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2013
#40
Every redneck I ever knew, me included, was proud to be referred to as such. It's a
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2013
#51
Well, you see, one trait of a true redneck is that he doesn't recognize
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2013
#52
Jeff said 'generally' and that's true, regardless of the charming picture above.
IrishAyes
Nov 2013
#129
Oh bullshit. Most of the redneck culture is based on pride in hard work which
ChisolmTrailDem
Nov 2013
#48
Country Boy, Good Ol Boy, Hick, Bumpkin, Redneck, White Trash, Poor White Trash...
NightWatcher
Nov 2013
#41
As a matter of fact, I am. I am currently doing field studies here in Georgia.
Tom Ripley
Nov 2013
#63
Redneck is on a level with things like 'hick,' 'nerd,' 'jock,' 'hippy,' 'beatnik,' etc.
Gidney N Cloyd
Nov 2013
#46
There are black people in my area that are rednecks. It is the way they dress and choose to live.
appleannie1
Nov 2013
#54
Thank you. Being from a coal mining region, I heard that story from parents and grandparents, but
AlinPA
Nov 2013
#71
I used to think 'hillbillies' were only white Americans who lived in the mountains of the Southern
Tikki
Nov 2013
#61
Lots of people live in hills and not all are called 'hillbillies' so it has an aspect of 'lifestyle'
Tikki
Nov 2013
#76
Apparently my vote has now been recorded but I still don't get a form to explain my vote;
IrishAyes
Nov 2013
#131
To appreciate how it can be racist, be called that while you're the only white person around.
dimbear
Nov 2013
#132
Rednecks are a generally racist, bigoted, simple subset of the white population.
Vashta Nerada
Nov 2013
#138