General Discussion

pipi_k

(21,020 posts)

41. As I wrote

Tue Jul 2, 2013, 10:56 AM

Jul 2013

the first time...

the word "cracker" may not be offensive to people, but the meaning of it is offensive, and Trayvon Martin's referring to George Zimmerman as a "Crazy ass cracker" when there is likely 100% chance that Zimmerman NEVER cracked a whip at a black slave is offensive.

Why would a black person even think of calling a white person he doesn't even know a "cracker"?

I don't refer to Asian people as "Chinks, Japs, Slant-eyes" or any other epithet. I don't refer to Italians as "Wops". I don't refer to Jews as "Hebes". I don't even call Frenchmen "Frog-eaters", even though my distant ancestors are from France.

There is absolutely NO reason for racial or cultural epithets. None. Not even if you're a black kid out buying Skittles and some white guy is following you.

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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