There are various theories concerning the origin of the term cracker. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. Nov 22, 2016 the word cracker at its absolute worst is a mean insult, kind of like being called a white loser on the school yard. It has been dated back to the 16th century, and many believe it was the celtic ethnic group who first used it. Mar 10, 2015 actually, the term cracker in this particular context refers to both the sound of the overseers whip and the individual who wields said whip.
The term is most widely used in the uk where circumcision among nonjews or nonmuslims is more rare, but in the united states, where it is more common, it can be considered insulting to many nonjewish males as well. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. Cracker is supposed to be to white people as offensive as the n word is to black people. In fact, the wikipedia entry for cracker pejorative even notes the. The term cracker barrel was first used in 1916, and it emerged from the country stores of the era. I thought it was because some people have skin the color of white crackers. But cracker has never had the same power to demean, or to exile, or. Where did the term come from though, and is it actually as offensive as other racial s. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging.
Since then, its meaning has become more generalized and it is often used by blacks to describe whites, especially racist whites. The word cracker is commonly understood as a racist slur for whites. Thus, if a black person says calls a white person cracker, it assumes the black speaker has superiority over an inferior white person. This racist dynamic is the reason its important to get the language right.
The only cracker i know is ritz crackers and they are. Yes, cracker is a racist term used in a derogatory manner to insult white people. Racism may be mean, but meanness isnt always racism. The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either to crack to boast or to corn cracker poor white farmer. Cracker barrel is something of an injoke among some racist circles, which claim, incorrectly, that the restaurants name derives from a slang term for white people. When the blacks say in their music they arent using it in a derogatory fashion. These stories are not about the nword and cracker the atlantic. Nigger the word, a brief history african american registry. So, the fact that the use of the term is from the oppressed to the oppressor further negates the equality of the two terms. He also explained that although the term is derogatory in much of the country, in florida, its a source of pride. Although originally a classist term, meaning the same as poor white trash, it has evolved through usage to be a derogatory term for someone considered a w.
Then i learned it referred to white people who used to whip slaves cause they crack them with their whips. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. Cracker comes from the gaelic word craic which means a good conversation and is still in use in ireland today. There is, however, no evidence that picnic has ever been used in a racist way, despite the fact that many people believe it to have racist origins or racist overtones. Jul 12, 20 it is becoming a racist term because people think it is, but it actually came from what mule drivers in florida called themselves in the past. The pejorative term cracker is older than western plantation overseers. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. A term in southeastern united states english to describe poor white trash, derived from the scottish meaning of the verb to crack, which, in this sense denotes ostentation. One theory holds that it originated with disadvantaged corn and wheat farmers. Refers to circumcision and consumerism never pay retail.
Cracker is not on equal terms with the nbomb onyx truth. The latter derivation is essentially the same as your grandmothers, except that the staple food of poor farmers was cracked corn, not crackers. It is becoming a racist term because people think it is, but it actually came from what mule drivers in florida called themselves in the past. It refers back to the american slavery era when slave owners were the whip crackers.
A week ago, residents of enchanted broccoli forest discovered the words no crackers. Jesus christ, how did someone who looks like the product of. That much, at least, should have been clear from my original post. Thus, cracker vote refers to support from such long term floridians. Jul 22, 2003 cracker and honkey are intended to be racist term for white people. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites. The word cracker at its absolute worst is a mean insult, kind of like being called a white loser on the school yard. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn.
Trayvon martins use of the term cracker doesnt make him a racist. Cnn had a remarkable discussion panel this weekend, thanks to the presence of george zimmerman and paula deen in the news, in which. Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners. Back in the 1700s, cracker was a derogatory term used by american whites to describe poor southerners of their own race. Derogatory term for whites, particularly from the american south. Social scientists agree that words like nigger, kike, spic, and wetback come from three categories. Whether you believe redneck is simply a term of heritage or code for racial intolerance is all about perspective.
Most people have no idea that the term uppity has racist connotations when applied to black people in particular. Heck, the whole concept of white as a race is relatively recent. As it turns out, in the area in which rachel jeantel was raised, the word cracker isnt a racial slur at all, but rather, a proud nod to the regions history, and ones own ancestry. A term in southeastern united states english to describe poor white trash, derived from the scottish meaning of the verb to crack, which, in this sense. You dont see white people goin up to eachotha sayin. Racist definition, a person who believes in racism, the doctrine that ones own racial group is superior or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others. Franchesca ramsey explains how slaves used the word cracker. The slang cracker is a term used for caucasion people. One of the favorite staples was a white cracker much like a saltine. Does the philosophical question of whether or not cracker is a racial term have any real bearing whatsoever on whether or not trayvon martin deserved to be shot and killed. Derogatory term used ironically against racist white americans. I was playing a server that is very adamant about no racism, yet one of the admins had the word cracker in his name. Cracker is an offensive, racial term and there are plenty of them.
Jun 28, 20 martins supposed use of the term cracker doesnt make him a racist any more than zimmermans resentment of punks necessarily makes him a murderous racial profiler. Compare latin crepare to rattle, crack, creak, with a secondary figurative sense of boast of, prattle, make ado about. Do white people actually find the term cracker offensive. White boys created all racist terms in use today, including. Apr 28, 2016 according to urban dictionary, becky is a term for blow jobs and references the stereotype that caucasian women are somewhat more sexually liberal. Martins supposed use of the term cracker doesnt make him a racist any more than zimmermans resentment of punks necessarily makes him a murderous racial profiler. A lot of whites have reclaimed the words redneck and hillbilly and turned it into a sense of pride. I dont know about the term cracker, it could never apply to this part of the world. Like is it used to say that they are white like a saltine or something. The amount of misinformation contained in some of these answers is amazing. I really doubt that cracker has even existed as a racial slur for that long. Aug 15, 20 the word cracker is commonly understood as a racist slur for whites.
All of our slang term and phrase definitions are made possible by our wonderful visitors. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a contemptuous term used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida, georgia or texas see florida cracker, georgia cracker or texas cracker. Is calling a white person a cracker racist answers. Its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time. The term nigga is quite frankly used more often than the word cracker or honky, in most rap albums. Weve all heard the terms cracker, white trash and redneck in reference to poor white people living in america. Targeted towards whites from the south, especially ones who are poor and rural, the term cracker is widely recognized as a racial slur you would think that residents of a supposedly progressive and racially conscious house would jump to remove a racial. It is why white trash, redneck and cracker have become synonymous with racist. It was used against all white people by those now referred to as blacks, african americans, and so forth. Where did the word cracker for white people come from answers. Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. She was always good but too predictable a little bland, and you would have never taken her home to meet the parents. Are the terms cracker, redneck and white trash racist.
The term cracker can certainly be a racist insult since racism is literally defined as prejudice against people of other races or believing a particular race is superior to another. When i think of the words redneck and hillbilly, i think of other things. A cracker is also a derogatory term for a white person so a cracker vote can also mean the white vote, or the white. It should have been left to the history books but to say it is the same as saying cracker to a white. There sure are a lot of offense terms around these days, no ethnic group is spared. Some will think of bigotry where others will think of history, and both seem to be.
However, as ramsey notes, the slaves werent oppressing poor white people by using the term, because they were still slaves. Isults are as bad, painfull and influental as people subjectively interpret them. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates. Southerners used the term for black people who didnt know their place and that term was usually followed by another racial slur. I know it goes back to before 1600 which would put its or. However, the term white cracker is not always used selfreferentially and remains a racist term to many in the region. The term cracker was used in the north, nj and ny for sure in the 50s and 60s. If the nword is racist and forbidden, words like cracker should be, too. New racist rap song in which whites are called crackers. They are claiming that if the racially offensive and derogatory term the nword is banned then the term cracker and redneck should be banned. The word has since stuck to white people though the meaning and intent has been long since been lost and mutated into whip cracker despite the fact that it was usually a black man on both ends of the whip. Where did the word cracker for white people come from. Others suggest that the original term picnic was changed to refer to lynchings, so that the meaning of the word picnic changed from innocent to racist. Actually, the term cracker in this particular context refers to both the sound of the overseers whip and the individual who wields said whip.
Its an awkward feeling when we hear a derogatory term and know its offensive but dont know the how or why of it. Despite its negative history, the word is regularly used by various races. In the 21st century, it remains a principal term of white racism, regardless of who is using it. The phrase cracker barrel was inspired by the barrels full of soda crackers that were for sale in the countrys country stores. Sep 10, 2016 franchesca ramsey explains how slaves used the word cracker. I never used the word to describe a white person cause it never really made sense me. Will you white crackers please stop whining for the love of god. Redneck, cracker and white trash are all terms created, or, in the case of white trash, popularized by wealthy white people to dehumanize white people living in poverty, particularly. Cracker barrel reminds me of that girl in high school, you know the one you could always count on when you needed to get laid. The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts. Martins use of the term cracker doesnt make him a racist any more than zimmermans resentment of punks necessarily makes him a. Will you white crackers please stop whining for the love. But i wasnt gonna allow this fool call me those things again.