A HILLBILLY as defined by NEW YORK JOURNAL refers to a free and untrameled white citizen of ALABAMA,One who resides in the hills,dresses carefree and one who fires a revolver as the fancy takes him.A Hillbilly is a merge of two words..hill refers to a hill and billy refers to comrade which translates to a hill comrade.Upto this age , there are people who live inside the forest and derogatory environment characterized by poor houses and poor living standards.They usually hunt for wild animals for their food and always play hillbilly music.Remember the horror film WRONG TURN?GREAT!!LET'S BEGIN.
Last week biznerati went on a research spree on the term.Found out the term got its major breakthrough following the American civil war.It was during this reign that the appalachian region stayed marginalised while other parts witnessed major 'facelifts'.Then came the Year of the Great Depression when many mountaineers left their homes to find work in other areas of the country but the appalachians refused to move and remained in the mountains till today.
Hillbilly family.Photo:wikipedia.org
Hillbilly house photo credit:wikipedia.org
Since then the hillbilly has been stereotyped and has even
been used as a racial slur on poor whites.
One of the issues associated with stereotypes is that it is profitable.The same case applies to hillbillies and entrepreneurs see this as a window for potential revenue.For instance,film makers have 'recycled' the image and brought it to life through thrillers.Just like THE WRONG TURN 1,2,3,4,5,6).
Wrong turn recycled the hillbilly history and brought it out.Remember the Inbred mutant cannibal hillbillies on the movie.Well played.The film potrayed the hillbilly with both derogatory personality and derogatory environment.
If you are familiar with wrong turn,then you are a witness to the derogatory attitude that has been inflicted by the film industry on the race.Film makes and also moguls always cash in on the stereotype(hillbilly).Should the hillbillies be discriminated?
Well,this a debate and biznerati raised this question and there were varied reactions with almost 80% spitting vitriol."At this age,how can one live in the forest with a 'semi-naked house'??Fumed one of those i managed to reach for answers.While another one was against discrimination "I believe every citizen has a right to stay where he or she feels like,".I tend to think that hillbillies chose not be associated with American community and choose to be conservative of their culture.
But why are the hillbillies choosing to have such a lifestyle in a civilized country?Is there a secret they are hiding?(heard of an incest case).Till when they will migrate from the hills/mountains,the stereotype will continue being used for profitability amongst film makers and moguls and also give anthropologists a case to study.
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