A couple of things are happening when I do this. Over the past five years, reality television has worked its way into Louisiana, thanks in part to the Louisiana Motion Picture Tax Incentive Act , a bill that grants tax credits for TV and film production in the state.
Unsurprisingly, several of these programs perpetuate the stereotype of the southern redneck: a God-fearing, gun-toting, truck-driving, inbred bumpkin.
But by many accounts, several people on these reality TV programs are not rednecks, at least in the accepted stereotype. They are not inbred, they have their own teeth, and they are not all bigots. In fact, many are wealthy and well-educated. So what is a redneck today? In America, the word redneck dates back to the s, and in different parts of the country at different times, its meaning has shifted.
Over the course of nearly years, it has stood for the following:. These are all pretty degrading characterizations and perhaps what most people have in mind when they hear the word redneck. But according to Patrick Huber and Kathleen Drowne , the term—originally an allusion to the sunburned red necks of farmers—was not always used as a slur amongst whites. According to Patrick Huber, this is what was happening during the Carter presidency and afterward. Yard mowed, a little garden in the back.
See also the rise of comedian Jeff Foxworthy, who in had sold more comedy recordings than anyone in history—more than twice as many as Richard Pryor and Steve Martin combined. Privacy Policy Contact Us You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the provided link on any marketing message. These men are what I call postmodern rednecks.
And they remind me of the white, educated, middle- or upper-middle class guys from North Louisiana with whom I and some of the Duck Dynasty clan went to school. JSTOR is a digital library for scholars, researchers, and students. Kelli Marshall explores a brief history of the word.
We all know the connotation of 'redneck. Most offensive to Kirby and others was that one student chose to wear a Confederate flag — for many a grim reminder of slavery and segregation. The Rev. A school is supposed to be for education and showing people where we come from, our history, and to try not to go back to some things. Lindsey said the student wearing the Confederate flag was pulled aside by an assistant principal and asked to change his clothes.
The student, who is from a state where the flag is more prevalent, did not see a negative connotation, the superintendent said. Costello said she understands that Redneck Day was intended to bolster students' sense of feeling good about school but said "they've chosen an event that stereotypes an entire group of people, and under those circumstances, they should hardly be surprised that they also offend people.
She said a student wearing a Confederate flag could easily argue that he's "playing a role, and he doesn't mean it. Costello said the school should do two things: "Open up a dialogue about why this was so offensive to some people, and second, to really start thinking through the kinds of events they sponsor to build school spirit.
She added that probably some students' families can be traced to the Appalachians, and "maybe they don't feel so great about being called rednecks. It reflects a very bad chapter in their personal or cultural experience.
That needs to be acknowledged, discussed and accepted. For his part, attorney Montoya said students have a First Amendment right to wear a Confederate flag and engage in free speech.
But he warned that the line between free speech and harassment is easily breached and said a district could be held liable for allowing a racially hostile education environment.
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