To some Northerners, Southerners are probably the most redneck bunch out there. This is probably one of the worst stereotypes I've heard about the South. Those people generally get this idea from movies that depict the South as an uneducated group of hillbillies or shirtless people who drive pickup trucks. However, this is certainly not the case. The South today is one of the most diverse regions in the continental USA. With thriving businesses and industries in populated city areas as well as suburban regions, it has contradicted that stereotype. Consider Atlanta, one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Although certain areas of the South may still remain relatively agrarian, that does not mean that farmers or country folks are necessarily rednecks. In fact, agriculture is the backbone to society and produces a majority of the foods we eat today.
Whenever I think hear the word "redneck", I typically find that offensive to whomever it is targeted towards. To me, it seems racist in a way, as most people label redneck as white people, or people of really light skin color with a burnt face. With regards to racism, the South is composed of people of all races.
What may also normally come to mind when Northerners speak of Southerners is some "bad" politics--that Southerners are stubborn in their conservative, Republican views. While most of the South is still predominantly conservative in its views, the 2000 presidential election shows a democratic Florida and Kentucky. Also, the majority of democrats are increasing in the South.
Source of picture: http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/diary/US_map_2008_election.png
Source of video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBocef6iQps
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