For this week’s prompt, I’d like you to use your favorite search engine to search the terms “hillbilly” and “redneck.” What sorts of results come up in your search? How are these terms used both derogatorily and positively? Where do you see examples of people or groups using the terms in a mean-spiritied, condescending way? What examples do you see where Appalachians have reclaimed the terms and use them as something they are proud of? Are there differences between the two terms or people that use them? Can a person be both a hillbilly and a redneck?

Hillbilly:

Wiki- Hillbilly is a term for people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas in the United States, primarily in Appalachia and the Ozarks, Uwharrie Mountains and Caraway Mountains.

This definition popped up on my browser as well as a sample of photographs. The photographs depict individuals who have no teeth or awkward facial features, such as big ears and lips. Most of them are dirty and have old worn clothing on. These sample picture depict these people as very poor, maybe not even working. When you read the definition provided by Wikipedia, it says nothing of social class or working. Why is it that the entire area provided by the definition seems to be depicted as poor and dirty?

There is also a TV show titled “The Beverly Hillbillies” which came up on my browser as well. This seems to have a less derogatory and mean title, yet they do indeed make fun of the ways of their old home, as well as show the difference in the different places.

Miriam-Webster- a person who lives in the country far away from cities and who is often regarded as someone who lacks education, who is stupid, etc.

The Webster definition of Hillbilly is more along the lines of what I have heard the term used as. When I see the pictures, it seems to be people with real deficiencies and maybe mental illness.

Redneck:

Wiki- a derogatory term chiefly used for a rural poor white person of the Southern United States.

Miriam-Webster- a white person who lives in a small town or in the country especially in the southern U.S., who typically has a working-class job, and who is seen by others as being uneducated and having opinions and attitudes that are offensive

The same popped up on my browser for redneck, the Wikipedia definition as well as sample photos. In the sample photos, the key characteristics were a long beard, a hat, and the confederate flag.  I am pretty sure one of the is from the show “Duck Dynasty.” I think this term began as a derogatory term, just like hillbilly, yet those who fell under this category took it and made it acceptable and it no longer effects them in a negative way for the most part, though I am sure there are those who still dislike the term for its original meaning.

I think that hillbilly is still a term that is used in a derogatory manner and is continually used to offend an individual, and redneck has been mostly accepted as a term for a certain group of people.  I think that there is a difference between the two and that is identifiable by the pictures, but it seems that hillbillies are dirt poor, and unhealthy. Rednecks are working class and just have certain characteristics such as the beard and the hats. They don’t seem to be deeply uneducated, maybe high school level but they didn’t pursue anymore.