Redneck actually refers to miners at the turn of the century wearing a red handkerchief around their necks to signify the solidarity to the brotherhood of organizing and securing a safer work place for miners and there long term health and welfare. The spouses and dependent when accidents took life, limb, and always health early in life left THEM to fin for themselves. Life was short for everyone in mining.. Except..
BTW it's still the same crappy life and folks from there. They defend the heck out of the crappy conditions. The government could give a CRAP. They ain't digging coal. Other people are. Mining equipment sucks..
Regards