Know Your History; Hillbillies

Got a few in the family.

very intersting fact about hillbillies

I always thought Hillbilly meant you are a Millionaire.

It is a regional term to used to describe people from the Mountains, but there are people who use it to degrade peopel from those areas. When use t degrade these people it commonly means uneducated and ignorant. But it is not used to describe a color of oen particular group. We have a few people in my family who live in the hills of Alabama and the older relatives use it to mean dumb or ignorant.

LOL... that silly Hillbilly is still upset.. LOL

I never thought hillbilly was a racial slur. It's a type of person, like bogan or redneck. They don't have to be white.

I've been called a hillbilly most of my life and it doesn't phase me a bit. I carry it with pride and attempt to show people that not all of "us" are ignorant, closed-minded inbreeds.

You might be a redneck if..................


You believe you got a set of matched luggage if
you have two shopping bags from the same store.

You think the last words to
The Star Spangled Banner are
"Gentlemen, start your engines."

You think Sherlock Holmes is a
housing project down in Biloxi.

You think a stock tip is
advice on worming' your hogs.

You've been married three times
and still have the same in-laws.

You think TACO BELL is
the Mexican Phone Company

Your state's got a new law that says
when a couple get divorced,
they are still legally brother and sister.

Your house still has the
"WIDE LOAD"
sign on the back.

You got stopped by a state trooper.
He asked you if you had an I.D.
And you said, 'Bout What?'

Non
Athletic
Sport
Created
Around
Rednecks

You think Genitalia is an Italian airline.

Your sister is the third generation
of women in your family to conceive
a baby as a result of an alien abduction.

You think safe sex is a padded headboard.

lol

...and damn PROUD to be one. The term is in NO WAY an insult, it's a true Compliment.

Just as the Confederate Flag.History cannot simply be erased.

the flag should be erased, they were traitors

I would say it's a cultural/regional term. It's certainly not a racist term, at least I don't think so. I honestly don't know if people are insulted by it or not.

Not in the slightest.

Thanks. That's good to know!

Hillbilly is a cultural term that can be used derogatorily. One of my grandmothers was from Eastern Kentucky and the term was used quite often in our family. I didn't hear it used as an insult until I visited friends in Illinois in the early 90s. I was somewhat surprised, but considering the source, wasn't insulted.

Fear of the unknown will do that to people. We are all guilty of it in our own right.

What's great is the feeling of letting them think it's an insult, when in fact, it comes nowhere close to being one.

You are correct. It's really disconcerting for them if you smile and thank them politely.

Mom used to say "kill them with kindness"

My method, exactly. It works very well, too.

Just add a healthy dose of "Bless your heart" and confuse them a little more. *grins*

I do that, too. I get a laugh and they don't know they have been subtly insulted or they do, but they don't know what to do about it without looking like a lout!

While the stereotype that you've mentioned, does exist (mostly among stupid individuals who have never met a hillbilly person), I just want to add that the people who are referred to as hillbillies, not only use the term themselves, but also have Hillbilly Day, as their cultural celebration.

Of course, I understand that it's not your definition. I just posted my comment for the people who may not know that the hillbillies themselves don't avoid the term.

Just like the term redneck, it was originally meant for miners who wore red bandanas around their necks, they were know as local heroes then. Now how it goes from that to the way it's used now, I have no idea.

agreed

I was taught that the term 'redneck' came from the redneck a white farmer got from working in the sun all day. Same difference, though, it's not an insult to be noted for the result of honest hard work.

It was because the rich man moved in and tried to take what was theirs with little to no compensation. When the "Rednecks" revolted the whiney rich folks started saying "those damn Rednecks".

That of course is the short version.

huh, I can actually see that happening.

You are so right! The term 'hillbilly' has been warped out of shape as the term ' redneck' has. Ignorance abounds!

Now I'll bet that there is just one big HOOTINANNY!!! YEE HA Y'all!!!

"The stereotype of a hillbilly is a person who: Is a White Southerner who owns a shotgun, goes barefoot, wears a worn out floppy hat, drinks moonshine and whiskey which he makes himself, plays the banjo or fiddle, drives old beat up pick up trucks, has bad teeth, is poorly educated, has long a beard, wears worn out clothes and hand me downs, and is happy and content with what they have."

Sounds like a hard working Entrepreneur to me.

I think it is a regional/cultural term but can be used in a derogatory manner. I live in North Carolina and went to Appalachian State for 2 years in the 80's and have always gone to North Carolina mountains often (sometimes Virginia). Beautiful area. App State mascot is the "Mountaineers", which is pretty fitting. I think if someone is a hillbilly and calls themselves that...great. But if people just randomly call people from the mountains, "hillbillies", it is probably offensive to them.

"But if people just randomly call people from the mountains, "hillbillies", it is probably offensive to them."


Nope, can't say that it is.

Well, I'm sure some might and some might not be offended. Living in the South, there are lots of rednecks. Some people love it and will say that they are a proud Redneck, but usually it would be meant in a derogatory manner.

Yes, used that way only by those who have no clue what the word means.

That defines ignorance in some "cultures"