The term hillbilly used to have a negative connotation with me, when I was younger. As I've gotten older and hopefully a little wiser I've come to see things much differently. Growing up in NW Arkansas made it relevant to me personally.
Rednecks and hillbillies had the good fortune to be born in a local environment with little urban influence and therefore they grew up closer to what is real, what has genuine meaning, what truly matters.
City folks don't even know how blinded they are by their urban lifestyle.
To be labeled a hillbilly is a badge of pride, for it means you're not blind or ignorant of many of life's truths.
and I'm not talking about the liberal myth of the "noble savage" either.
So, would I be a "redbilly", since, I apparently am bi-polar with regard to my benevolent/malevolent sides? (Depends how I wake up that day)
Athor Pel,
What part of NW AR? We lived near Fort Smith for about ten years until we moved back to Texas last year. There is some really beautiful country and some of the nicest people in the world there. I guess we fall more into the hillbilly catagory even though we now live in some pretty flat country. ;o)
So the guys in Second Lions were Rednecks then, right?
What about white trash?
SB,
White trash is any white person who ain’t got no self respect and goes around making a nuisance of themselves. You find em everywhere, especially in cities.
SB, How dare you bring my name into this conversation?
What about white trash?
I think I'm insulted!
I"m not serious, trying to get a laugh in an otherwise hum-drum day.
Now I have to go wash a hog house. Another day in the life of a farmer.
As I said I was always told that Hillbillies were of no account. As I started fighting and playing with the boys down the street I thought they weren't so bad. Infact, I preferred them to some of the other friends I had made around my grandma's. Course my grandma didn't like it none. My grandpa, he would just tell me to stay out of the way of the dad and to tell him (my grandpa) if he (hillbilly dad) ever gave me any problems... which he never did. I don't think he ever spoke a word to me when I was over there, nod his head in greeting is all. Course, he probably knew my grandparents sentiments towards him. He was never mean though, probably figured I wasn't no harm to his kids even if my ancestors were biased.
Re: White Trash... I've always heard that in a negative context. People even use it here in Detroit, when referring to trailer park people who won't hold jobs, do drugs, etc. Course living in a trailer park does not make you White Trash.
White Trash is generally used as a term used in association with folks who would otherwise be called a "nigger".
You mean white trash, ain't white?
And I never axes, but I sometimes do ask.
nope... white trash is white.. that's why we don't call 'em niggers... though.. to be honest... we could.
Birdie,
Near Fort Smith you say?
Where exactly?
Van Buren
Alma
Greenwood
Mountainburg
?
I wouldn't wish Ft. Smith on anyone.
Lots of better places to live.
Last census numbers I saw had 70% of the jobs in factories. It's a company town so to speak.
I consider Ft. Smith my hometown but I wouldn't live there again.
I live in Springdale,AR. There are a few hillbillies but more rednecks here. But not a lot of white trash.
Mostly hardworking middle class folks.
I prefer the term bumpkin, myself.
I love hillbillies, it's rednecks I can't stand.
Don't think there's a difference?
Go to Texas & git an edjumucashkun!
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