I grew up mostly in southeast Virginia (with a 4 1/2 year side trip to Tucson, AZ). Redneck was/is used pretty universally there for describing a certain type of southern man, and had nothing to do with socio-economic status. You could be a well-off redneck with a fleet of trucks; you could be a dirt-poor redneck with no truck. Good Ol’ Boy was used more in reference to the social network/secret handshake/free pass Rednecks give to each other.
That’s my experience from where I lived. However, I have a different perspective since my family isn’t originally from the South and we ended up there because of the military. Also, SE VA has its own group of people commonly derided - the Guinea Marsh Watermen.
A la @howard :
Q: What the f*ck?
A: They’re from Gloucester.
(both nod)
So i don’t know for sure where the nests of hillbillies are, but they are everywhere. If you think they ain’t, go to rural Ohio. Or the mountains in Pennsylvania. Or the town awayfrom the interstate in Missouri, or Nevada, or Montana, etc.
But when a Billy is your friends? You’re home anywhere they are. That ain’t so bad.
The most redneck people I ever ran across in my life were nowhere near where you think they would be. Oildale CA near Bakersfield. When I was in CA during the 80’s, Oildale was the birthplace or focal point of most of the white supremacists groups. And they were not shy about it. For reference, I am from Alabama and was in a mixed race marriage for 35 years until my wife passed in 2017.
He passed 5/25/2016-She left 04/07/2017. Married for 35 years. However, I have a new little wife and she understands that I will always have memories of my late wife and son. She is not threatened at all by that. But, as they say, life goes on.
I was born in North Hollywood in California, and basically grew up in Huntington Beach.
At the end you will see why I replied to this portion of your text above.
My Dad is a true “Okie from Muskogee”. born in Mukogee, but grew up in Tulsa.
My Grandma was from a town they flooded and turned into a lake, known as Lake Eufalla (You Folla)
Idk much about my grandpa, my dads Dad, but he was from Oklahoma as were both my grand mothers and grand fathers paernts.
So my lineage dating back from beginning of last century at least on my fathers side is pretty much “Redneck”.
My mother was born and raised in “The Bronx” in New Your City.
My grandmother and grandfather were born in america (I think) in or around New York City.
Both of their parents were born in pre soviet union states that became Russia under U.S.S.R.
Not 100% sure, but some Lithuianian Romanian, possible Armenian, Belarus and / or Ukraine.
All the great grandparents on my mothers side dating back to the beginning of the century, all changed their names and fled To America to escape Hitler and the concentration camps. So if I think about the actual time line, that would mean my grandparents were not born in America and made the trip with each of their parents to USA.
Anyway, my grandparents and great grandparents on my mothers side are 100% Eastern European Jewish / American refugees.
While
My Great Great Grandfather on my fathers side was the Grand “Dumb Ass” of the KKK"
No wonder I an so F’ed up!!
Raise right hand straight out with about a 30 degree angle up and shout
“seek Help”
