Penny For Your Thoughts
By: Nancy Whitaker
Does anyone know what a “redneck is?” We have heard jokes and stories about the folks who are from the south and Jeff Foxworthy has made a ton of money with his jokes and quotes about rednecks. A few of Foxworthy’s quotes are – “you might be a redneck if…” you have the local taxidermist’s number on speed dial; you’ve ever hit a deer with your car… deliberately; your school fight song was Dueling Banjos; you’ve ever given rat traps as gifts; your coffee table used to be a cable spool; you keep a can of Raid on the kitchen table; your mother has “ammo” on her Christmas list; there are more than five McDonald’s bags in your car; and your tail lights are made of red tape.”
We think these are funny and describes a typical redneck. We may picture a redneck as a poor class, silly, blue collar worker from the hills and that is the persona they have been perceived as.
Now I have seen some of the so-called Redneck pictures on the web and you got to hand it to them for their creativity. Who would think of making a swimming pool in the bed of their pickup? Or, taking a watermelon rind, cutting leg holes in it, attaching a rope and making a baby swing? While the baby swings, he can also chew on the front of the watermelon. Another idea was using an eight pronged rake, running hot dogs through the prongs and roasting all the hot dogs at one time. So actually redneck ideas aren’t all that bad (or good).
Earlier this week a good friend of mine told me some of the history of the term redneck. I was amazed to learn that the term redneck even had a history. The story, which takes place in West Virginia tells of the Battle of Blair Mountain. The battle was one which included men fighting along side of the union for safer mining conditions.
On August 7, 1921, just one week after a Sid Hatfield had been murdered on the steps of the McDowell County Courthouse, Frank Keeney, the president of the UMWA District 17, gave a stirring speech to thousands of miners on the capitol grounds in Charleston. He told the crowd that there was no justice in West Virginia and declared, “The only way you can get your rights is with a high powered rifle!” He then told the miners to go home and await the call to march.
And march they did. Over 10,000 miners, wearing red bandanas around their necks to identify themselves carved a path of rebellion from Charleston to the doorstep of Logan County. Mine guards and miners fought it out until federal troops intervened. Over 500 “rednecks” were charged with treason, murder, and conspiracy to commit murder. The state used coal company lawyers in the prosecution, and their own governor testified against the miners. Among those charged, of course, were the leaders of the movement: Frank Keeney, Fred Mooney, and Bill Blizzard.
Sometimes this history gets lost through the years, but Blair Mountain is now on the National Register of Historic Places. One resident of West Virginia said, “We are indebted to those who have worked to preserve this historic landmark and save Blair Mountain from becoming another casualty of a coal operator’s greed.”
Some say the term redneck came from those fighting coal miners who wore red bandanas around their neck as they fought that battle on Blair Mountain. I have relatives from the south and I would probably call them, and myself, a redneck.
My great-grandpa Pelfry worked in a coal mine in Kentucky way before the Battle of Blair Mountain. He was somewhat of a redneck also. One night as he was walking home from work, being thirsty and creative he used his hands to scoop up some water to have a drink from a flowing spring. He should have known better, because when he scooped up the cold water, he happened to scoop up a lizard, swallowed it and died the next day.
Maybe we are all rednecks at heart. Most of those who call themselves rednecks are proud of their heritage and that battle of Blair Mountain.
Now, do you know anything about Rednecks? Do you think you may be one? I know I am but you let me know and I’ll give you a Penny for Your Thoughts.
