Origins of the word 'Redneck'

[MicroBrew]

19th century West Virgina saw conflict between coal Miners and Mine owners. Due to unjust conditions imposed by Mine owners, Miners formed a Mine Workers Union. Not all Mines were unionized and Southern West Virginian Mine owners worked diligently to prevent unionization.

10,000 thousand odd Northern Union Mine workers led a march to the southern non Union West Virgina where their brother miners were denied unionization . Southern West Virgina Mine owners employed law enforcement, politicians and 'private detectives' (nothing more than company employed thugs) to harass, intimidate , imprison and kill miners who tried to Unionize.

The marching Union Mine workers tied a red scarf/bandanna around their necks to identify themselves. A reporter who was covering this march coined the term 'Redneck'.

The demographics who represented miners also started the predecessor for modern NASCAR.

Above info gleamed from History channel documentary "Hillbilly the real story" hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus. Saw the show last night.

http://www.history.com/shows.do?epis...&action=detail

[Darwinist]

I always thought the term redneck came from the farmer tan you get when you work out on the farm in the summer - I know I get one hell of a red-neck, abruptly cut off at my shirt collar when I do harvesting work and such

But that story pwns. Go Union!!!

[Horus]

Originally Posted by Darwinist

I always thought the term redneck came from the farmer tan you get when you work out on the farm in the summer - I know I get one hell of a red-neck, abruptly cut off at my shirt collar when I do harvesting work and such

But that story pwns. Go Union!!!

Thats what I heard too. More specifically the white guys who were guarding slaves or prisoners as they worked.

[CEROVFC]

Yes, overseers with whips out in the sun making sure the cotton-picking quotas were met.

[MicroBrew]

Originally Posted by Darwinist

I always thought the term redneck came from the farmer tan you get when you work out on the farm in the summer - I know I get one hell of a red-neck, abruptly cut off at my shirt collar when I do harvesting work and such

But that story pwns. Go Union!!!

Thats what I also knew as the source of the term 'redneck', until this program last night.

[Alvin Roden]

Originally Posted by Darwinist

I always thought the term redneck came from the farmer tan you get when you work out on the farm in the summer - I know I get one hell of a red-neck, abruptly cut off at my shirt collar when I do harvesting work and such

Ditto.

[DrSatanDracula]

That's very damn interesting.

[Sohei]

Originally Posted by Darwinist

I always thought the term redneck came from the farmer tan you get when you work out on the farm in the summer - I know I get one hell of a red-neck, abruptly cut off at my shirt collar when I do harvesting work and such

But that story pwns. Go Union!!!

Ya thats where I thought it came from, pasty white blue-collar workers who worked out in the sun all day and couldnt tan so the backs of their necks turned red.