The origin of term needs more attention than it actually gets and etymology is regrettably ignored way too often in our society and the manner in which people deal with and apply English.
the term was originally used to describe the old coal miners who went on strike in americas long and bloody history of the labor struggle.
The old strikes often turned violent they aren't like the modern version at all because the more tame tepid strikes we've experienced are hard fought and litigiated union rights that were won in bloodshed much like a lot of other rights- Freedom wasn't ultimately free, not at first at least. and the price was paid in blood.
Your right to strike was ultimately won in carnage and bloodshed and americas horror at the way the workers were treated and massacred.
The truth of the matter is that I've wanted to call them rednecks and make fun of them myself but then I gradually as a student of history started studying labor history and realized during the strikes I would have at least been in solidarity with the original "Rednecks."
I support labor rights and will not cross a picket line because of it. That stated am not ultimately a republican so of course I've wanted to throw perojatives at some of these hicks but my education is starting to get in the way. when you realize the term was originially used to insult people who you would have considered yourself an ally of.
today of course we don't use redneck the way it was originally intended. But it wouldn't be the first charged slur to be that way.
