In the last decade or so, there’s been a resurgence of the whole red neck vs white trash thing in various circles so a lot of people will pop up to say their piece on this. I’m just trying to explain why that’s going to be a bee in the bonnet for some.
I have an admitted axe to grind with this, but I personally blame seething Yankees and ignorant Westerners for this.
White Trash can be urban, suburban, or rural white people. Its entirely a categorization based on behavior and race and has little valence beyond that.
People not from the South have little interest in distinguishing southerners, so they collapse distinct categories and terms.
I will attempt to elucidate and I invite fellow Southrons to give feedback and correction.
Southern: broad classification based on geographic, linguistic, and cultural traits. Used by Southerners themselves to denote someone who particularly exhibits souther mannerisms and character.
Country: Someone who has a rural or countryside background. Can be of any economic level, education level, or social class. Can be engaged in white or blue collar work. Tends to be somewhat genteel more than anything in manner, but retain southern accents and sensibilities.
Redneck: Working class characterized by a more rough and tumble attitude. Tend to be more aggressive and to be less cultured, but are often hardworking. Tend to be from the countryside or small towns and have disorganized front lawns. Problem with alcohol abuse.
Hick: similar to rednecks, but less educated and less motivated. Tend to get lumped with rednecks, giving rednecks a worse reputation. Lawn and house interior in varying states of neglect and disrepair. Often addicted to drugs.
Hillbilly: Even less educated, isolated, insular, strange and hard to understand even for hicks and rednecks. Source of memes/notions about southern inbreeding.
Can be hardworking in a simple way.
I'll accept my puzzle pieces now.