From Joe Bageant, author of Deer Hunting With Jesus. He grew up redneck in Virginia.
Only the deadest political ear could fail to hear class resentment in [country music] lyrics. Growing up in the poor white working class leaves you angry for life, even after you’ve become successful. But the time is growing very ripe for liberals to wise up and come explain to my people just who it was that made them a growing permanent underclass. If we speak honestly, they will listen. But first we must unsell ourselves that our moral high ground and political awareness makes us superior.
Or that upper middle class progressives somehow have all the answers. Not hardly. The best things liberals could do is listen to the white underclass. Then try to find common ground. White liberals scrupulously try to rid themselves of prejudices against people of color yet too often hold onto and nurture prejudices against the white underclass. How crazy is that? And you’re damn right the white underclass resents such insulting class bias – and for good reason too.
Imagine what could be accomplished if progressives and the white underclass joined together.
