Aren’t the original “Rednecks” union thugs from coal strikes in WV (Battle of Blair Mountain)?
Seems somewhat ironic that we are being called ignorant rednecks by union thugs.
The term originated in Scotland I believe, referring to farmers and others who worked manual labor outside. It was in literal reference to the red necks they would get from sunburns.
The first group described as rednecks were union members from all over the state of W Va who were opposing the coal mine owners refusal to allow their mines to be unionized. They wore red bandannas around their necks.
The battle of Blair mountain in Logan Co., WV resulted in the death of nearly 100 union members at the hands of local police authority as they, 13,000 strong, sought to enter the county and demonstrate in support of unionization. In 1921 they were not what is commonly referred to today as thugs.
read here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain
The uprising that led to the battle at Blair mountain was a popular movement much like the tea party and anti gov’t health movement today. “Redneck” is an absolutely appropriate and honorable, historically accurate, description of today’s anti government movement. This is the largest uprising since the civil rights movement of the 60’s.
A redneck was a person from the south (or a farmer) that spent his time with his head down working the fields. Therefore he had a redneck...It was suppose to be an insult..but rednecks don’t insult easy...But don’t you dare call him a liberal or socialist...you might get shot. He is an American........