[Sans-Culotte]

I live in the Houston area, and the word is fairly often used down here. In fact, I remember seeing a sign for a "Coon-ass Festival" somewhere in town last year.

I would not equate use of the word to that of blacks using the "N" word. Coon-ass is not really related to coon.

[Rocky Mountain High]

I'm from south Louisiana and some folks find the term offensive. Most don't care.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Besides, the term "redneck" is not used for the entire people group (race); the n-word is. Few would call an American of European descent not from the South a "redneck," much less an immigrant/tourist/etc. from the UK, Germany, and so on. American of African descent from all over the country, and even from other parts of the world, are referred to by some using the n-word. If both are offensive terms, then both shouldn't be used, but one is far more exclusive than the other and is more culturally/ethnically insulting rather than racist per se.