i have a red bandana that the Mattewan chapter of the UMWA gave me that says "certified redneck" on it. it is my proudest possession.

and i want to say something about those rednecks up in McDowell county. they gave my friend Alice the same bandana. she was there in her hippy dress with her full beard. and they were happy to see her because she's their friend and they're hers.

also worth knowing, the red bandana is the symbol of the unionist movement in appalachia because of what each color represents:

• red: labor, collective action, and indigenous rights
• white: white laborers
• black: black laborers

our red bandana was selected to represent our anti-racist ethos. it has been our symbol for around 140 years now. and i'll be damned if i let any of my neighbors forget who we are or where we come from.