Journal Entry 2

When I searched “hillbilly” and “redneck” on google.com I found the run of the mill, generic, pictures, jokes, and cartoons of them both. They are used in a derogatory manor to poke fun at having lesser education, lower hygiene/dental standards, and an unwelcoming look. Blake Shelton, Craig Morgan, and various other country music artists have fashioned the two words into positive direction by shining light on the true meaning of the words. I see condescending, and derogatory examples all the time of these two words. The association of the inability to learn, or the way an individual talks are two main components of every joke about “hillbillies” and “rednecks”. If you are from the country, for some reason these two words are what you are referred to if someone doesn’t like you and usually is followed by some stupid joke about how you married you cousin or had kids with your sister. In my opinion, Appalachians have reclaimed these two terms through music. Songs titled “Redneck Yacht Club”, or “Hillbilly Deluxe”, have spurred a generation to associate these two words with drinking beer and have having one hell of a time with your buddies, while muddin’, fishin’, huntin’, and doing whatever he or she wants to do and not caring about what anyone else has to say about it. The two terms have their differences and similarities, though more similarities in my opinion. A person who lives in the middle of farmland, cut off from the outside world may not be considered a “hillbilly”. Where as someone who lives in a holla’ or holler back in the mountains may be considered more of a “hillbilly” than a “redneck”. Yet, the individuals whom reside in the mountain may be considered a “redneck” and “hillbilly” more interchangeably than the individual living in the middle of flat farm country.