The Meanings of a Word

Jared Sutton

English 1101-02

Mr. Jones, M.A.

October 13, 2010

‘The Meanings of a Word'

The subject of my paper is on a word that most everyone has heard at one time or another or may have used it. The word "Redneck" in my opinion can be used just as negatively as the word that is the subject in Gloria Naylor's essay "The Meanings of a Word." But in today's society the word Redneck which most often refers to a white person who is distinguished as or in a group of people who are of quote "poor white trash" is used amongst themselves in a neutral but most times popular ideals. Here is one of many references by some of today's country music artists that have used the word redneck being a popular identifier in their lyrics: "Some people look down on me but I don't give a rip, I'll stand barefooted in my yard with a baby on my hip ‘cause I'm a redneck woman, I ain't no high class broad I'm just a product of my raising I say ‘hey ya'll' and ‘yee-haw!' and I keep my Christmas lights on, on my front porch all year long." – By Gretchen Wilson.

Stand-up comic Jeff Foxworthy remarks that "If your family tree has no branches you might be a redneck". In S. Eisminger's 1984 book of Redneck, American Speech, he says "the origin of the term Redneck derives from the South's past of poor white farmers or physical laborers who would get severe sunburn on the back of their necks in the early 20th century giving them the nickname Redneck. The red appearance on the back of these farmers and workers necks were also contributed to a certain medical condition called Pellagra, a condition resulting in an inadequate diet that causes a red rash to emerge on the neck and other parts of the body" (Eisminger). This would support the stereotypical role of the farmers and workers in the early 20th century, due to the South's majority of poor whites not being able to fully support themselves and their families with sufficient resources such as food and clean clothing. But these claims were also being based on interviews with descendants of individuals who lived in the South during the first half of the 20th century, so it may not be ultimately credible to today's medical standards due to advances in technology and a significant rise although now a recession in the economy.

Since Pellagra was largely confined to The South during The Depression and earlier and sunburned necks were not, it seems as though Pellagra had something to do with redneck's rise in popularity which coincided with the rising incidence of the disease in The South. "Though this initial usage was not necessarily a class slur, it was certainly a class specific label, as Pellagra occurred mostly among impoverished southerners" (Eisminger). Poor Southerners in the early 20th century diets consisted mainly of pork fat and grits and in turn the southerners often lacked adequate sufficiencies of niacin in their diet which caused the disease. "Pellagra was certainly not confined to whites in the Southern United States. Most deaths from the disease, in fact, were among black females" (Eisminger). I think that whatever the origins, the label of redneck has been and is used as a popular term among those whom it is being referred to and as a negative