Now she understood a few things: that the American academy, which one might have thought the place to defend freedom of speech, had been the seat and soul of abrogating freedom of speech, if the first assault on its freedom can be said to be restricting, or handcuffing speech. The day she heard “redneck” on NPR, she turned NPR off, not because broadcasters were still using the term, but because she knew one day they would not be. In fact, she had a vision of the quiet moment backstage at a Boston studio when a good, surprised correspondent was let go for saying “redneck” the last time it would be said. Padgett Powell
About This Quote

In the old days, people used to call someone a redneck. When political correctness took hold of America, the term was banned from the airwaves. However, the word is still in use today. It is considered a racial slur that is only okay when used in a specific context.

The term redneck was a term that was once fairly neutral and devoid of racial overtones, but now it is used exclusively by white people to demean African Americans. For example, a common thing that white people say to African American is "you're a redneck." In fact, they even have a salute for it - they make an upside down "OK" with their fingers. The problem is this: this gesture does not mean anything other than "I am superior to you." It also has been recently reported that in some places there are signs that say "OK," which led some people to believe that this gesture does not have a negative connotation at all.

However, many black people do not think it is acceptable when white people do this sign because it represents an attempt to show one's superiority over them. It also makes them feel as if they don't belong in society or in positions of power.

Source: Mrs. Hollingsworths Men

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