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Bluenorthwest

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12. The word 'cracker' comes from the word 'Craic' pronounced 'crack' which means

Tue Jul 2, 2013, 10:00 AM

Jul 2013

conversation, bullshitting, bragging...the word is still in use, one goes down the pub for a pint and some good craic.
The term is used to describe rustic and rural 'big talkers' in Shakespeare, the entire lot of Southern colonists got the name early on and eventually it applied specifically in Florida to cattle handlers, we say 'cowboys' they said 'cracker cowhunters'. A goodly portion of the Cracker Cowboys were Seminole Indians and Spaniards as well as Anglos.
There are entire books to be read about the Crackers and many have read The Yearling or Cross Creek for example.
http://www.thehistorychannelclub.com/articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/239/florida-crackers-americas-tropical-cowboys

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Yes, George Zimmerman is in fact a "creepy cracker". [View all] backscatter712 Jul 2013 OP

Isn't a "cracker" someone who whips slaves? dkf Jul 2013 #1

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Jul 2013 #3

Why wouldn't both be considered extremely offensive but the n word more so? dkf Jul 2013 #4

George Zimmerman is an extremely offensive person... backscatter712 Jul 2013 #5

I now have a problem with both words, not that I use either. dkf Jul 2013 #7

Wait...When was the last time White People were oppressed? HipChick Jul 2013 #34

O'bother BellaKos Jul 2013 #44

The word 'cracker' comes from the word 'Craic' pronounced 'crack' which means Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #12

That makes no sense why it applies to white people. dkf Jul 2013 #13

what color are crackers? snooper2 Jul 2013 #27

The term comes from Colonial times, what we call a 'cracker' food wise is called Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #32

Interesting, I like the modern usage by Chris Rock though snooper2 Jul 2013 #36

I've worked with Chris, he uses lots of words I'd never use Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #45

That explains why Zimmerman didn't get soggy in the rain. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2013 #81

That's because it did not mean 'white people' it mean 'rural colonists in the South Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #31

it makes sense to me: the crackers are the braggarts, the arrogant ones Voice for Peace Jul 2013 #51

Craic is also the root of the expression "cracking a joke". Cracker was applied to southern settlers Erose999 Jul 2013 #20

my great great grandparents were enslaved noiretextatique Jul 2013 #83

You are not responsible for what your great grandparents did, only what you do. dkf Jul 2013 #87

Nothing is problematic about it JustAnotherGen Jul 2013 #108

It may not be as offensive to you... pipi_k Jul 2013 #14

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Jul 2013 #17

Yet to accuse someone of being so inhuman that they believe others can be owned is no small thing. dkf Jul 2013 #25

For Zimmerman in particular, the apple doesn't fall far from the slave-owning tree. backscatter712 Jul 2013 #43

you know...this is pretty absurd noiretextatique Jul 2013 #75

I'm not white nor black so I view this as an outsider. dkf Jul 2013 #85

As I wrote pipi_k Jul 2013 #41

No. Zimmerman is a creepy (pervert) ass cracker, JimDandy Jul 2013 #77

I couldn't remember pipi_k Jul 2013 #84

I think that John2 Jul 2013 #68

Trayvon Martin wasn't pipi_k Jul 2013 #79

In Florida DonCoquixote Jul 2013 #35

That's how I remember it in school RockaFowler Jul 2013 #54

Not to mention "cracker" has several innocuous other meanings, and "n____r" does not. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2013 #2

That's exactly what I used to think, it was because those crunchy wafers were white. dkf Jul 2013 #6

That is the connotation behind it. hootinholler Jul 2013 #18

The culinary wafers were not called Crackers until 1790s Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #48

There's a certain irony RZM Jul 2013 #8

I thought it was equal to calling people a redneck, country hick, hillbilly, etc. Example: patricia92243 Jul 2013 #9

I agree that "cracker" isn't the equivalent of the "n" word but cali Jul 2013 #10

Speaking as the target of that particular slur, if I'm called it, I'll survive the experience. backscatter712 Jul 2013 #11

Part of it is how personally offended you are. dkf Jul 2013 #15

I'm a northern, affluent, urban intellectual white gay man, if you call me a Cracker Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #19

Bluenorthwest BellaKos Jul 2013 #57

I have never heard a Northern Black refer to a Northern White as a Cracker HockeyMom Jul 2013 #94

OK, but it is offensive to a lot of folks, so why use it. Is it that important cali Jul 2013 #22

+1 RZM Jul 2013 #28

If you want to use that logic... pipi_k Jul 2013 #23

You still missing the John2 Jul 2013 #82

What I know... pipi_k Jul 2013 #86

It is not the equivalent at all,it is kind of sort of racially based, kind of and is not Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #16

sorry, but it is a racially based slur and as pointed out by someone else cali Jul 2013 #37

No, it is obviously used by some as a racially based slur, but that does not mean Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #66

There's a restaraunt in Cross Creek called The Yearling which specializes in Cracker Cuisine. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2013 #50

Yes, it is a racial slur and that is how it is used today. n/t Skip Intro Jul 2013 #29

you alerted the OP for being a racist slur, have you ever alerted one racist against black people? CreekDog Jul 2013 #110

Geeze, do you ever pull that stick out? Skip Intro Jul 2013 #111

It isn't reverse racism.. It's just racism... Pelican Jul 2013 #21

Nope WovenGems Jul 2013 #30

+100. Skip Intro Jul 2013 #39

If my memory of reading Gone With the Wind is correct Babel_17 Jul 2013 #24

DEAD HONKEY! backscatter712 Jul 2013 #40

The SNL skit reinforces the fact that there are no racial 'slurs' against white people Sheldon Cooper Jul 2013 #76

I agree, but in that skit Pryor used "cracker" in response Babel_17 Jul 2013 #93

Yes, I'm familiar with the sketch. Sheldon Cooper Jul 2013 #97

I'm not getting your argument Babel_17 Jul 2013 #103

You'd really be offended if someone called you a cracker? Sheldon Cooper Jul 2013 #104

Well, we're going far afield now Babel_17 Jul 2013 #105

Race-baiting self-deceiving hypocrisy. n/t Skip Intro Jul 2013 #26

I'm really learning a lot about some of you from your kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #33

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Jul 2013 #46

STOP IT DEVILGRRL Skittles Jul 2013 #113

Me too! backscatter712 Jul 2013 #49

It's not the first time 'cracker' has been discussed on DU RZM Jul 2013 #52

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Jul 2013 #38

This is nasty. pipi_k Jul 2013 #60

In this case the black person WAS the victim of gratuitous violence from a white man. backscatter712 Jul 2013 #70

Something that seems to be missing Old Codger Jul 2013 #42

SYG is not in play. AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #47

well Old Codger Jul 2013 #109

I don't give a shit if he called him every derogatory word in the book that could apply to white AtheistCrusader Jul 2013 #53

Apt description of someone with a gun on their hip in public. Hoyt Jul 2013 #55

What about a non-white person with a gun on their hip in public? RZM Jul 2013 #56

Yes "Honorary cracker." But truth is Hoyt Jul 2013 #58

So to continue with this line of discussion RZM Jul 2013 #62

Does your pony know any other tricks? Lizzie Poppet Jul 2013 #64

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2013 #59

I'm afraid it's going to be pipi_k Jul 2013 #63

Ah, but that's "different!" Lizzie Poppet Jul 2013 #91

"To suggest that the words "cracker" and "nigger" are at all similar..." Lizzie Poppet Jul 2013 #61

Jury votes 4-2 to allow racial slur. Skip Intro Jul 2013 #65

The effort to work the refs continues! backscatter712 Jul 2013 #69

? Skip Intro Jul 2013 #72

I've called him that numerous times wryter2000 Jul 2013 #67

So somebody else gets to decide what offends some people? The Straight Story Jul 2013 #71

Slurs against any race or gender are bad, unless they're aimed at white males. Skip Intro Jul 2013 #73

A Cracker is what they used to call cattlemen here in Florida madville Jul 2013 #74

racist white people are eager to paint themselves as victims noiretextatique Jul 2013 #78

Fail. pipi_k Jul 2013 #88

as i type, i guarantee you there is some asshole noiretextatique Jul 2013 #106

I know, rich, isn't it! White people being oppressed! Stop the presses! backscatter712 Jul 2013 #89

Honest to god, can you believe it? Sheldon Cooper Jul 2013 #98

i can understand that the term is offensive to some noiretextatique Jul 2013 #107

Er, I don't think he's white enough to be a cracker. Cleita Jul 2013 #80

Martin wasn't in the state of mind to make such distinctions when he was being stalked. n/t backscatter712 Jul 2013 #90

I know he wasn't. Poor boy. Cleita Jul 2013 #95

I really don't think this article... NCTraveler Jul 2013 #92

Thank you. The fact is that a young person is dead because we don't have Cleita Jul 2013 #99

Public opnion, never cared about what really happened, NM_Birder Jul 2013 #96

Creepy ass cracker was apt description given all that transpired. appacom Jul 2013 #100

Eerily prescient of Trayvon, unfortunately. n/t JimDandy Jul 2013 #101

As a white woman in Florida, HockeyMom Jul 2013 #102

Informative thread! For all the Caucasians offended by the term "cracker"... The Midway Rebel Jul 2013 #112

We used to call them peckerwoods. bravenak Jul 2013 #114