[daedalo]

Redneck like it or not still has negative connotations in NE Florida. This thread has identified NE Florida rednecks claiming to be educated, cultured, wealthy, and non-prejudiced while displaying some of the earmarks of a true redneck. Perhaps these folks are really reformed rednecks, neo-rednecks, high-tech rednecks, suburban rednecks, twenty-first century rednecks, redneck wannabes, or just redneck apologists. A NE Florida redneck in the original sense of having a red neck due to one working the fields all day is a dying breed here. A "redneck" and a "Florida Cracker" are nearly synonymous with the cracker being the localized term for a redneck in this state. A type of dirt poor redneck could be "poor white trash". And even this has an identifiable historical landscape, meaning a family whose possessions and garbage/litter adorn the front yard of their residences. This landscape also can be quite rural and you must really look to find it now. In the tiny town of Day, Florida, behind its post office there are a couple of classic examples. If you explore some wooded back alleys off Old St. Augustine Rd. on the southside of Jacksonville you will find some folks that have range chickens, sweep the dirt, have junk and trash in the yard and adorn their world with ramshackle fences and signs stating enter at you own risk...these are a few of the true remaining rednecks in N Florida.

[LM1]

Originally Posted by daedalo

Redneck like it or not still has negative connotations in NE Florida. This thread has identified NE Florida rednecks claiming to be educated, cultured, wealthy, and non-prejudiced while displaying some of the earmarks of a true redneck. Perhaps these folks are really reformed rednecks, neo-rednecks, high-tech rednecks, suburban rednecks, twenty-first century rednecks, redneck wannabes, or just redneck apologists.

Or perhaps how you define "redneck" is totally incorrect...

A "redneck" and a "Florida Cracker" are nearly synonymous with the cracker being the localized term for a redneck in this state.

Insert buzzer noise here.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

Wrong.

In the state of Florida, "cracker" has absolutely no economic or even negative racial connotations. We have “cracker day” and “cracker festival”, etc.
The term “cracker” is colloquialism that, since about 1900 or so, has been used by Native Floridians to describe ourselves. The word is most definitely rooted in "white" culture, but there are no prevailing racial connotations by default.

Prior to that, its meaning was more focused, the term being specific in reference by the English Colonials to the Scots-Irish residents of the extreme Southeast.

[moderator CUT]

[Alaska-Florida]

Daedalo, thank you for enlightening the board and distinguishing the differences. I myself can understand poverty and even lack of culture and educution, but when mixed with utter hatred and classless mentality, the results are as previous described.

I'm glad that people like you live down there and that the entire state isn't filled with rednecks and crackers.

Originally Posted by daedalo

Redneck like it or not still has negative connotations in NE Florida. This thread has identified NE Florida rednecks claiming to be educated, cultured, wealthy, and non-prejudiced while displaying some of the earmarks of a true redneck. Perhaps these folks are really reformed rednecks, neo-rednecks, high-tech rednecks, suburban rednecks, twenty-first century rednecks, redneck wannabes, or just redneck apologists. A NE Florida redneck in the original sense of having a red neck due to one working the fields all day is a dying breed here. A "redneck" and a "Florida Cracker" are nearly synonymous with the cracker being the localized term for a redneck in this state. A type of dirt poor redneck could be "poor white trash". And even this has an identifiable historical landscape, meaning a family whose possessions and garbage/litter adorn the front yard of their residences. This landscape also can be quite rural and you must really look to find it now. In the tiny town of Day, Florida, behind its post office there are a couple of classic examples. If you explore some wooded back alleys off Old St. Augustine Rd. on the southside of Jacksonville you will find some folks that have range chickens, sweep the dirt, have junk and trash in the yard and adorn their world with ramshackle fences and signs stating enter at you own risk...these are a few of the true remaining rednecks in N Florida.

[Alaska-Florida]

Daedalo, thank you for enlightening the board and distinguishing things. I myself can understand poverty and even lack of culture and educution, but when mixed with utter hatred and mindless mentality, the results are as previous demonstrated.

I'm glad that people like you live down there and that the entire state isn't filled with rednecks and crackers.

Originally Posted by daedalo

Redneck like it or not still has negative connotations in NE Florida. This thread has identified NE Florida rednecks claiming to be educated, cultured, wealthy, and non-prejudiced while displaying some of the earmarks of a true redneck. Perhaps these folks are really reformed rednecks, neo-rednecks, high-tech rednecks, suburban rednecks, twenty-first century rednecks, redneck wannabes, or just redneck apologists. A NE Florida redneck in the original sense of having a red neck due to one working the fields all day is a dying breed here. A "redneck" and a "Florida Cracker" are nearly synonymous with the cracker being the localized term for a redneck in this state. A type of dirt poor redneck could be "poor white trash". And even this has an identifiable historical landscape, meaning a family whose possessions and garbage/litter adorn the front yard of their residences. This landscape also can be quite rural and you must really look to find it now. In the tiny town of Day, Florida, behind its post office there are a couple of classic examples. If you explore some wooded back alleys off Old St. Augustine Rd. on the southside of Jacksonville you will find some folks that have range chickens, sweep the dirt, have junk and trash in the yard and adorn their world with ramshackle fences and signs stating enter at you own risk...these are a few of the true remaining rednecks in N Florida.

[elfyum]

LM1 - Why are you trying to redefine "redneck"? You ARE actually creating YOUR own meaning! FL isn't the only state with rednecks, and it is universally understood as "white trash". This isn't to say that you can't be a redneck & proud! That's your right & if you're a redneck & like it, then BE proud! But trying to redefine it as a nature lover with class seems kind of silly! Again, if that's YOUR definition, that's fine, but don't think that anyone else should think of it that way.

[SunnyDazy]

I relocated from NY to Jax about a year and a half ago and I must say: It is beautiful, affordable, close to the beach, and seems like it would be such a great place to live. But the PEOPLE are NOT WELCOMING AT ALL TO OUTSIDERS. I started out genuinely open-minded but after frequent comments like "Like it or go back where you came from" (which kills me, because most people here are originally from somewhere else) and the quite shocking: "Don't worry, the terrorists will blow up destroy all you people eventually" and other such comments I must say I did not feel welcome AT ALL. And there is absolutely ZERO variety here...forget it if you do not think, vote, live or worship the way everyone else does... you will stick out like a sore thumb. When I head to down further south to other cities in Florida, the increase in diversity is a HUGE relief. Also, NOT MUCH in the way of white collar opportunity in Jax... and the city does not do much to lure large-scale employers. I'm currently searching for jobs outside of NE Florida. I dont think it has anythign to do with "redneck" or "white trash" because there are a lot of people here with money. It is just a certain insular mentality.

[anonymous]

With the help of wikipedia, along with my personal experience, I present:

Phenotypes of the Southern American

Redneck - lower class, blue-collar working class, or middle class; pugilistic, aggressive, considered to be of "poor upbringing". Will consume any drug/alcohol he/she can afford.

Good Ol' Boy - can be of any class: lower, middle, or upper. laid-back, rural; enjoys the outdoor lifestyle: hunting, fishing, boating, 4-wheeling, etc. Typically has an amicable personality. Prefers beer (Natural Light, Busch, etc.) and maybe the occasional smoke.

White Trash (slur) - poor & destitute and of a low social class. Crude manners, abnormally low moral standards, and lack of cultured behavior and/or education. The bottom of the barrel.

I think it's notable that redneck is like "the N-word", in that you have to be a redneck to acceptably call someone a redneck. "good ol' boy" is a compliment, and "poor white trash" might get you in serious trouble.

One could be several different combinations of these classifications, along with a Hick (extremely rural), a Hillbilly (isolated mountain person), or cracker.

[Linny]

In the tiny town of Day, Florida, behind its post office there are a couple of classic examples.

Daedalo!

I know exactly where you are talking about and you are so right. I have turned right there at that little post office many times on my way to fish on the Suwannee. I've also turn left there at the post office and driven that little loop in behind it. There's one big old beautiful white house that sits in there that is magnificent. The stories it could tell! Thanks for reminding me. Do you live there? Take care.

Linny

[fromflorida]

fla2006
Being a native of florida (Pinellas County) I can tell you that there is no
shortage of rednecks in this great state. This is something that some
Floridians can not accept or admit but that does'nt make it any less true.

[daedalo]

Thanks for the affirmative comments. No I don't live in Day. I live in a place called O'Neill, which is between Yulee and Amelia Island (Fernandina) prretty much on the site of Isabel Barnwell's slave plantation. My grandfather on my mother's side settled in Callahan (from Darien, GA) in 1906. My grandfather on my dad's side opened a small manufacturing facility in Callahan in the 1930's from upstate NY. Both grandfathers were also MDs. Mom's family was from CT but moved south during reconstruction. Since this is not a geneology site we will leave it pretty much at that, but both families arrived in New England by sailing ship in the 1600's. So our collective memory of NE Florida is pretty good when we can remember what we have forgotten!