What is the origin of the word redneck and why do people take them for fools?

Lower class whites who get sunburned on their neck. Happen to be very conservative and racist.

not sure. i think from sunburns or something from farm-work that caused their necks to turn bright red…never researched it much.
but most i go to school with are REALLY intelligent; they just have thick accents and like to do ‘country’ things

some of them are racist but most of them (that I KNOW) aren’t. i guess it changes with region and city/town.

I think it derives from the white people with the very fair skin that get sunburned especially around their neck and chest area. They are supposed to avoid the sun. Most are not racist, and not all are from the South. And just like Bella said…..”country” don’t mean “stupid”.