Two Americas: Black Rednecks and Karmelo Anthony — and Civilization

[mystery-ak]

Two Americas: Black Rednecks and Karmelo Anthony — and Civilization

Simply put, society-wide disgust with ghetto culture and its values must intensify.

Selwyn Duke | June 18, 2026

When thinking about poor Austin Metcalf, I sometimes wonder about his reactions during those last fatal moments on April 2 of last year. When murderer Karmelo Anthony drew that knife, could he not, being young and athletic, have avoided at least a deadly strike? Perhaps Anthony was just too quick. But then I realize something:

The two boys were from vastly different worlds.

Austin occupied the world most of us inhabit. It’s a place where, among other things, proportionate force is instinctively understood. Sure, boys and men, being boys and men, will sometimes have physical conflict, and we understand that part of manliness is standing up for yourself. But we also reflexively know that a shove is to be met with a shove, a swing with a swing. This norm, reflected in Queensberry rules, is necessary for preservation of life and civilization.

Anthony’s world is clearly different. Egos are as big there as virtue is small; touchy and prideful to the hilt, the instinct can be that if you feel “dissed,” you can smoke the other guy. This is why it isn’t unusual hearing about ghetto altercations in which an “offended” party departs, returns with a gun and shoots multiple people. It’s why so many rappers (e.g., Tupac) suffer violent deaths.

So Austin, perhaps poorly acquainted with this world, might understandably have been completely shocked at the drawing of a knife amidst an adolescent locking of horns. It’s not something civilized people may expect. (Perhaps such warnings should be in an updated version of “The Talk: Nonblack Version” — the article that got commentator John Derbyshire canceled.)

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https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/06/two_americas_black_rednecks_and_karmelo_anthony_and_civilization.html

[Cyber Liberty]

A quibble and an observation:  To my knowledge, Redneck Culture never approved of going straight from pushing to fatally stabbing in an encounter between culture, while Black Culture readily approves such escalation. 

The observation: We don't have a "race problem," we have a "problem race!"

[roamer_1]

This article is an insult to black rednecks everywhere.
And yes, they exist - I have set at their table and ate their BBQ.

[Smokin Joe]

This article is an insult to black rednecks everywhere.
And yes, they exist - I have set at their table and ate their BBQ.

Somehow, thee writer has equated good ol' boys with low-end white trash, and misused the term "redneck" in modern usage.
Similarly, he has further abused the term "redneck" as understood in non-urban parlance by applying it to people we used to be able to use a word for.

Definitely not black "good ol' boys", but an urban class equivalent to 'white trash', only we're not allowed to use the word that fit people like that for years anymore.

Rednecks? Aww, Hell no!

I do think it's time to ditch the checkboxes, Throw a number on the application, and hire the person most qualified for the job.-and that includes a reasonable measure of civility a real "redneck" has hardwired in.

[roamer_1]

Somehow, thee writer has equated good ol' boys with low-end white trash, and misused the term "redneck" in modern usage.
Similarly, he has further abused the term "redneck" as understood in non-urban parlance by applying it to people we used to be able to use a word for.

Definitely not black "good ol' boys", but an urban class equivalent to 'white trash', only we're not allowed to use the word that fit people like that for years anymore.

Rednecks? Aww, Hell no!

I do think it's time to ditch the checkboxes, Throw a number on the application, and hire the person most qualified for the job.-and that includes a reasonable measure of civility a real "redneck" has hardwired in.

That's all right. 

The thing that hits me in it was what was my own ignorance, once upon a time... As a Northern Rockies Redneck, my interaction with black folks has been very limited, as one might assume... Injuns, yes. Blacks (and Mexicans), very rare - even though my BIL is black, and my black niece cleans my house - They are both Caribbean blacks though, learning how to be Americans by their primary interaction with my family - So it kinda doesn't count...

But I had the occasion to hang out in Kansas and Missouri for a while in my life, where, unlike back east (Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Anne Arbor), I ran into rural blacks... Mostly in my work totin grain sacks at the elevators, on farms, and in construction, I was struck by the difference - There seems to be a hard line in country living between the black and white communities (and maybe the Mexican too) Their churches don't seem to mix... nor their communities very much - The difference between Natives and rural whites is pretty blended here, especially way back in the sticks, where it is hard to find a family without native roots somewhere in the tree, and that, pretty close to right now too... So native rednecks and white rednecks is pretty much all the same thing - Especially, like I said, back in the hillbillies.

But it is quite distinct down south between blacks and whites... Nobody's mad at it now... It ain't racist. They're neighbors, and treated as such... But it is a very distinct line. And it's alright.

[Smokin Joe]

That's all right. 

The thing that hits me in it was what was my own ignorance, once upon a time... As a Northern Rockies Redneck, my interaction with black folks has been very limited, as one might assume... Injuns, yes. Blacks (and Mexicans), very rare - even though my BIL is black, and my black niece cleans my house - They are both Caribbean blacks though, learning how to be Americans by their primary interaction with my family - So it kinda doesn't count...

But I had the occasion to hang out in Kansas and Missouri for a while in my life, where, unlike back east (Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Anne Arbor), I ran into rural blacks... Mostly in my work totin grain sacks at the elevators, on farms, and in construction, I was struck by the difference - There seems to be a hard line in country living between the black and white communities (and maybe the Mexican too) Their churches don't seem to mix... nor their communities very much - The difference between Natives and rural whites is pretty blended here, especially way back in the sticks, where it is hard to find a family without native roots somewhere in the tree, and that, pretty close to right now too... So native rednecks and white rednecks is pretty much all the same thing - Especially, like I said, back in the hillbillies.

But it is quite distinct down south between blacks and whites... Nobody's mad at it now... It ain't racist. They're neighbors, and treated as such... But it is a very distinct line. And it's alright.

My basic point is that there once was a large difference between city blacks and rural blacks. Despite the homogenization that goes on via media, I think a lot of that is still there. There are distinct cultural boundaries which exist, not just between rural and urban blacks, but between blacks and other groups as well. Not saying the cultures are the same, but low-lifes are low lifes, and down home folks are people you can run the river with, no matter what color or background.
Somewhere in there, people make a choice of what sort of person they will be, with a heart they've asked to be touched by The Almighty or embracing the opposition, or still somewhere in between, sorting that out. You'll know them when you meet them.

[Sighlass]

Article seems to be a way to avoid saying the obvious correct unPC terms. There is white-trash and rednecks. One of those terms I am usually proud to be associated with. You know the equivalent on the flip side (and most of us probable have a few as friends). Unfortunately those black good folks often have to associate with their peers that run the gambit of mixed companionship in their circles. They have to thread the line, thus (in my case) makes it hard to be full-on friends at all times. I found the few nice black friends I had, often had family that was far from the same character. Thus the bonds formed were often "fair-weather" and limited further deep friendship growth.   

I (in my youth) remember a brother of a black friend I had said "lets go do something". He (with me in tow) drove to a motel where he got out and knocked on a motel door where his old girlfriend was with another fellow. It was awkward to say the least at being invited to be backup muscle in case things went awry. I distanced myself fast from friendship. Years later the other brother lost an eye in a similar situation.  I was not cut out for the dose of culture thrust upon me and wanted no part of it from then on out.

[roamer_1]

My basic point is that there once was a large difference between city blacks and rural blacks. Despite the homogenization that goes on via media, I think a lot of that is still there. There are distinct cultural boundaries which exist, not just between rural and urban blacks, but between blacks and other groups as well. Not saying the cultures are the same, but low-lifes are low lifes, and down home folks are people you can run the river with, no matter what color or background.
Somewhere in there, people make a choice of what sort of person they will be, with a heart they've asked to be touched by The Almighty or embracing the opposition, or still somewhere in between, sorting that out. You'll know them when you meet them.

That's a fact...Like I said, they are a distinct population, country blacks, but they're all the way country, all of em. Yeah, there's trailer trash among em, just like whites, and good ol boys, just like whites... But it's all just exactly what you'd expect from country living folks, just a different color and a little different vibe... More old-school blues, and a little less country music, maybe. But good, good people.

They get the short shrift being subject to the black culture that the rest of the country seems to prefer... Because they ain't none of that. They're Country AF, all the way through. 

[roamer_1]

Article seems to be a way to avoid saying the obvious correct unPC terms. There is white-trash and rednecks.

You have to understand - Back east (Northeast, I mean), 'redneck' is a derogatory term, pretty much meaning 'white trash' or 'trailer trash' the way you and me would know it. It is very distinct in that region. The proper term is 'Country', not 'Redneck'. It's a good way to know the author is from NYC or the like... That he's talking smack against rednecks... Far enough north of the Mason Dixon Line to not know a damn thing. 

[Bigun]

I have been in rural Southeast Texas for most of my life and can tell that @roamer_1 has it pretty much nailed. I have worked, hunted, and fished with black folks all of my life. Call many friends. Some I would trust with my life but we do not live in the same communities or attend the same Churches and there are no laws preventing us. We ALL just naturally gravitate to our own. No malice. No hatred. Just the way it is. Go to town and that's a whole nother story. My country friends laugh at them.

[Cyber Liberty]

You have to understand - Back east (Northeast, I mean), 'redneck' is a derogatory term, pretty much meaning 'white trash' or 'trailer trash' the way you and me would know it. It is very distinct in that region. The proper term is 'Country', not 'Redneck'. It's a good way to know the author is from NYC or the like... That he's talking smack against rednecks... Far enough north of the Mason Dixon Line to not know a damn thing. 

I agree, the Author doesn't know Shineola about Rednecks OR Hillbillies!  Those two peoples are NOT the same!

[Cyber Liberty]

I have been in rural Southeast Texas for most of my life and can tell that @roamer_1 has it pretty much nailed. I have worked, hunted, and fished with black folks all of my life. Call many friends. Some I would trust with my life but we do not live in the same communities or attend the same Churches and there are no laws preventing us. We ALL just naturally gravitate to our own. No malice. No hatred. Just the way it is. Go to town and that's a whole nother story.

 

[roamer_1]

I have been in rural Southeast Texas for most of my life and can tell that @roamer_1 has it pretty much nailed. I have worked, hunted, and fished with black folks all of my life. Call many friends. Some I would trust with my life but we do not live in the same communities or attend the same Churches and there are no laws preventing us. We ALL just naturally gravitate to our own. No malice. No hatred. Just the way it is. Go to town and that's a whole nother story. My country friends laugh at them.

It's just the strangest thing to me - I mean, it's alright -  All y'all do what you do - I'm good with it. It ain't racist or nothin. Both kinds want it so. It's just weird. Is it the same with Latinos? It feels like there is more blending with Latinos down that way... Cultural and familial... I have known folks from Texas and Arizona that have a helluva lot of Mexican in em... So I wonder if them lines are the same, or more blended. 

@Bigun

[Bigun]

It's just the strangest thing to me - I mean, it's alright -  All y'all do what you do - I'm good with it. It ain't racist or nothin. Both kinds want it so. It's just weird. Is it the same with Latinos? It feels like there is more blending with Latinos down that way... Cultural and familial... I have known folks from Texas and Arizona that have a helluva lot of Mexican in em... So I wonder if them lines are the same, or more blended. 

@Bigun

My lovely bride of 58 years is 50% Mexican (from Arizona). Mexicans have always been a part of Texas culture. Many Mexicans were in Sam Houston's army in fact. @roamer_1

[Cyber Liberty]

It's just the strangest thing to me - I mean, it's alright -  All y'all do what you do - I'm good with it. It ain't racist or nothin. Both kinds want it so. It's just weird. Is it the same with Latinos? It feels like there is more blending with Latinos down that way... Cultural and familial... I have known folks from Texas and Arizona that have a helluva lot of Mexican in em... So I wonder if them lines are the same, or more blended. 

@Bigun

Mexicans have a very wide distribution of skin hues.  Some tend towards their Spanish roots and are as white as you and me, while others have primarily Native American and Mayan roots and are much darker.

[roamer_1]

My lovely bride of 58 years is 50% Mexican (from Arizona). Mexicans have always been a part of Texas culture. Many Mexicans were in Sam Houston's army in fact. @roamer_1

@Bigun
That's great! I ain't throwin no shade at your darlin wife. 

I get it - You can feel it in the culture down there... Food. family, way-of-life... Kinda like natives up here (Proper natives, not rez natives, I mean).. The culture has quite a bit of native influence that I hardly see, it is so part-of-the-furniture.

I guess the difference is that the Salish have always been here, like the Mexicans down there... So maybe country culture grew around them. Became one.

It's just weird, that hard line with blacks, I mean. 

[Bigun]

@Bigun
That's great! I ain't throwin no shade at your darlin wife. 

I get it - You can feel it in the culture down there... Food. family, way-of-life... Kinda like natives up here (Proper natives, not rez natives, I mean).. The culture has quite a bit of native influence that I hardly see, it is so part-of-the-furniture.

I guess the difference is that the Salish have always been here, like the Mexicans down there... So maybe country culture grew around them. Became one.

It's just weird, that hard line with blacks, I mean. 

No "maybe" to it! Hard fact!

My bride had no idea she was half Mexican for the first 65 years of her life but it turns out that her mother (from Kansas) lied about who her father was on her birth certificate (out of fear I guess). Makes not one bit of difference to me. @roamer_1

[Wingnut]

No "maybe" to it! Hard fact!

My bride had no idea she was half Mexican for the first 65 years of her life

Who cares as long as she doesn't fart under the sheets and blames the dog...right?

[Bigun]

Who cares as long as she doesn't fart under the sheets and blames the dog...right?

  

[roamer_1]

I agree, the Author doesn't know Shineola about Rednecks OR Hillbillies!  Those two peoples are NOT the same!

Well sorta - All hillbillies are rednecks - Not all rednecks are hillbillies - Hillbillies are a sub-phylum... Hillbillies ain't cowboys, and cowboys ain't farmers... But they're all rednecks. 

[roamer_1]

Who cares as long as she doesn't fart under the sheets and blames the dog...right?

That's right! That's MY job. 😁👍

[Wingnut]

 

Besides...that is a mans job!

[roamer_1]

No "maybe" to it! Hard fact!

My bride had no idea she was half Mexican for the first 65 years of her life but it turns out that her mother (from Kansas) lied about who her father was on her birth certificate (out of fear I guess). Makes not one bit of difference to me. @roamer_1

@Bigun
That's right... I don't care where you come from - I care what you are. 

[roamer_1]

Mexicans have a very wide distribution of skin hues.  Some tend towards their Spanish roots and are as white as you and me, while others have primarily Native American and Mayan roots and are much darker.

That's right... Iroquois the same way up north A whole lot of red and blonde hair, blue eyes, green eyes... You can't tell me there ain't a Viking in the woodpile way back there. 

[Wingnut]

That's right... Iroquois the same way up north A whole lot of red and blonde hair, blue eyes, green eyes... You can't tell me there ain't a Viking in the woodpile way back there. 

LOL! 

[roamer_1]

Besides...that is a mans job!

Heh. Great minds and all that... 

[Wingnut]

That's right! That's MY job. 😁👍

 

Heh. Great minds and all that... 

[roamer_1]

Andif the dog's a Husky, you just might get away with it. 😁

[Bigun]

Andif the dog's a Husky, you just might get away with it. 😁

LOL! I have a 15-pound mini schnauzer than can peal paint off the walls!

[roamer_1]

LOL! I have a 15-pound mini schnauzer than can peal paint off the walls!

Nothin beats a husky... especially when he just got done crawling through and chowin down on a week old rotten moose.

My dog brown could chase all the cowboys out of a line shack, all by himself. And somehow that''s my fault. 

[Wingnut]

I have a 12 year old Standard Poodle who has the walking farts worse than my dear old grandmum.

[roamer_1]

I have a 12 year old Standard Poodle who has the walking farts worse than my dear old grandmum.

Hey. I'VE got the walkin farts these days... And I don't even mind... It's like hitting the nitrous... The buggy does a little wheel-stand and off I go.

[Smokin Joe]

Nothin beats a husky... especially when he just got done crawling through and chowin down on a week old rotten moose.

My dog brown could chase all the cowboys out of a line shack, all by himself. And somehow that''s my fault. 

I had one who was 5/8 wolf, and if she got a deer rib cage to gnaw on, well, she was going to spend most of her time outside for a couple of days, minimum.

[roamer_1]

I had one who was 5/8 wolf, and if she got a deer rib cage to gnaw on, well, she was going to spend most of her time outside for a couple of days, minimum.

It's bad... So damn bad... Farts so thick and putrid that the taste of em sticks to your teeth. And not just one or two... This is a fart machine that runs for hours... Every ten minutes a new one, worse than the first. The horror of it all is truly indescribable, if you haven't lived it... 

[Wingnut]

Hey. I'VE got the walkin farts these days... And I don't even mind... It's like hitting the nitrous... The buggy does a little wheel-stand and off I go.

LOL