"The term redneck, contrary to some contemporary connections it’s picked up, was in no was in no way pejorative, nor reactionary. The term was used to describe striking miners in Appalachia during the Ludlow strike in 1921. The militant, left-wing United Mine Workers led strike pitted tens of thousands of striking miners against police, the gated Pinkerton private contractors and eventually, the US military, where chemical weapons were first dropped from the air on US citizens. The miners formed what became known as the “Redneck Army” because of the red bandanas they wore around their necks, a reference to the red flag of socialism. The strike culminated in the Battle of Blair Mountain where the Redneck Army fought against the US Army sent in to break the strike."
Source: https://www.supercluster.com/editorial/the-history-and-future-of-the-term-astronaut
"The term redneck, contrary to some contemporary connections it’s picked up, was in no was in no way pejorative, nor reactionary. The term was used to describe striking miners in Appalachia during the Ludlow strike in 1921. The militant, left-wing United Mine Workers led strike pitted tens of thousands of striking miners against police, the gated Pinkerton private contractors and eventually, the US military, where chemical weapons were first dropped from the air on US citizens. The miners formed what became known as the “Redneck Army” because of the red bandanas they wore around their necks, a reference to the red flag of socialism. The strike culminated in the Battle of Blair Mountain where the Redneck Army fought against the US Army sent in to break the strike."
Source: https://www.supercluster.com/editorial/the-history-and-future-of-the-term-astronaut
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