Why is it not considered racist when an African-American calls a Caucasian-American a "cracker"?

[livingwordunity]

Paula Deen got ostracized for an off-the-cuff thoughtless remark. People won’t even forgive her after she has apologized multiple times for it. But when it’s revealed that Trayvon Martin called George Zimmerman a “creepy cracker” just before physically attacking Zimmerman people say something like “oh that’s just a black colloquialism. It shows that he was innocent and sincere. How cute.”. Although Zimmerman is actually considered Hispanic, he was obviously considered the same as white in the eyes of Martin. There’s a sharp double standard.

By the way, I’m half African-American and half Caucasian-American. And I’ve experienced racism from both sides growing up. There is even some racism in my family on the African-American side. I have a few cousins who believe that blacks are superior to whites. I don’t know much about the Caucasian-American side of my family.

 

[TRH1292]

Paula Deen got ostracized for an off-the-cuff thoughtless remark. People won’t even forgive her after she has apologized multiple times for it. But when it’s revealed that Trayvon Martin called George Zimmerman a “creepy cracker” just before physically attacking Zimmerman people say something like “oh that’s just a black colloquialism. It shows that he was innocent and sincere. How cute.”. It seems like there is a sharp double standard.

By the way, I’m half African American and half Caucasian American. And I’ve experienced racism from both sides growing up. There is even some racism in my family on my black side. I have a few cousins who believe that blacks are superior to whites. I don’t know much about the white side of my family.

A lot of people do consider “cracker” to an offensive racist term.
But many do not, probably because of America’s history of white dominance, a lot of people (especially democrats), think that only white people can be racist, which is clearly not the case. Although america was once heavily influenced by white’s with racist motivations, a lot of that has slipped into the past, although not all of it. A realization is needed today that racism is alive in all racial groups.

 

[Deus_tecum]

It definitely is considered a racial slur by people in the black community. I have asked black friends what it means exactly, and they don’t know. They just say it is the ultimate slur. It does not simply mean “white person” as I found out when I said to some project kids “Yes, I am a cracker. So what?” Most white folks do not take offense at it, but black people who use the term mean it with great offense.

I believe the term came in popular use in the late 80s when the Miami street gangs had some power and popularity. “Cracker” in the old days of Florida referred to cattleman who drove cattle by cracking loud whips over their heads. They were Florida whipcrackers. This later came to be simple slang for a country person who was white. Anyway when the gangs picked it up, they used it as a slur.

Intent is the operative word here. We are not supposed to say “negro” in regard to a black person but “black person” is ok. Negro means black in Spanish. Some things make no sense but if people are sensitive we have to try not to offend.

Signed,
Your creepy asterisk honky cracker whiteboy

 

[livingwordunity]

It definitely is considered a racial slur by people in the black community. I have asked black friends what it means exactly, and they don’t know. They just say it is the ultimate slur. It does not simply mean “white person” as I found out when I said to some project kids “Yes, I am a cracker. So what?” Most white folks do not take offense at it, but black people who use the term mean it with great offense.

I believe the term came in popular use in the late 80s when the Miami street gangs had some power and popularity. “Cracker” in the old days of Florida referred to cattleman who drove cattle by cracking loud whips over their heads. They were Florida whipcrackers. This later came to be simple slang for a country person who was white. Anyway when the gangs picked it up, they used it as a slur.

Intent is the operative word here. We are not supposed to say “negro” in regard to a black person but “black person” is ok. Negro means black in Spanish. Some things make no sense but if people are sensitive we have to try not to offend.

Signed,
Your creepy asterisk honky cracker whiteboy

That’s interesting. I assumed that it had to do with what is put in soup.

 

[RileyG]

That’s a great question. I’m half Czech/mixed Slavic descent and I’m sure it would be inappropriate if someone called me a “oily bohunk”, or a “cracker” because of my WASPy ancestry. Either way, it isn’t ok. shrug

 

[tabycat]

That’s a great question. I’m half Czech/mixed Slavic descent and I’m sure it would be inappropriate if someone called me a “oily bohunk”, or a “cracker” because of my WASPy ancestry. Either way, it isn’t ok. shrug

My Irish-American grandmother would sometimes call my Czech-American dad a ‘bohunk’ when she was mad at him, so I learned early to ignore racial names.

 

[runningdude]

Paula Deen got ostracized for an off-the-cuff thoughtless remark. People won’t even forgive her after she has apologized multiple times for it. But when it’s revealed that Trayvon Martin called George Zimmerman a “creepy cracker” just before physically attacking Zimmerman people say something like “oh that’s just a black colloquialism. It shows that he was innocent and sincere. How cute.”. Although Zimmerman is actually considered Hispanic, he was obviously considered the same as white in the eyes of Martin. There’s a sharp double standard.

By the way, I’m half African-American and half Caucasian-American. And I’ve experienced racism from both sides growing up. There is even some racism in my family on the African-American side. I have a few cousins who believe that blacks are superior to whites. I don’t know much about the Caucasian-American side of my family.

Cracker is mildly racist, but it is simply not an equivalent term term to the “N” word. I don’t think anybody shrugged off Trayvon using the term. The phrase he uttered gained notoriety because it showed that Trayvon realized he was being racially targeted and responded by returning the favor.

A few may be trying to down play its racist overtones, but only because they realize the phrase adds controversy by painting the victim in a manner favorable to Zimmerman.

 

[LongingSoul]

It’s interesting what power a word can carry. In Australian, to be a ‘cracker’ is a compliment especially for a female. ‘She’s a cracker’ means she’s attractive. I’ve had a cracker of a day means I’ve had a brilliant day.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

I don’t think I have ever been called a cracker. I don’t think that word would hurt me as bad as the N-word would hurt a black person. That being said, I don’t think anyone should use those words. My husband is black. We will have biracial children and saying any type of racial slur will get them in big trouble. It doesn’t matter if they are greeting someone or trying to be offensive, those words aren’t to be tolerated. Period.

 

[DaveBj]

Why is it not considered racist when an African-American calls a Caucasian-American a “cracker”?

Because, if you believe what has been taught for decades about race relations in the U.S., it is not possible for African-Americans to be racist or exhibit racism.

And if you believe that, you’ll believe anything.

 

[livingwordunity]

Cracker is mildly racist, but it is simply not an equivalent term term to the “N” word. I don’t think anybody shrugged off Trayvon using the term. The phrase he uttered gained notoriety because it showed that Trayvon realized he was being racially targeted and responded by returning the favor.

A few may be trying to down play its racist overtones, but only because they realize the phrase adds controversy by painting the victim in a manner favorable to Zimmerman.

Can you give me some logical reasoning for why “cracker” is not as racist as the “N” word? And what is it that makes something only “mildly racist” VS racist? There’s zero proof that Zimmerman is a racist. The prosecution and MSM are trying to make him out to be racist just because he used some foul language. But nowhere in the incident did he ever use the “N” word or give any indication that it was about race. Using foul language doesn’t make someone a racist. Based on the actual facts of the case and ignoring the race-baiting, I’m of the opinion that Zimmerman may be guilty of poor judgment but not guilty of murder. But a fair trial is not even possible because the MSM poisoned the well from the very get-go.

 

[Carlan]

That’s interesting. I assumed that it had to do with what is put in soup.

I had never heard the expression until I spent time in Florida /Georgia, I just assumed whites were referred to as crackers because crackers are white or because crackers crumble easily , who knows. As for name calling, I don’t believe in it ,it is not nice, and I try very hard to refrain from it myself.Peace, Carlan

 

[Nimzovik]

Can you give me some logical reasoning for why “cracker” is not as racist as the “N” word? And what is it that makes something only “mildly racist” VS racist? There’s zero proof that Zimmerman is a racist. The prosecution and MSM are trying to make him out to be racist just because he used some foul language. But nowhere in the incident did he ever use the “N” word or give any indication that it was about race. Using foul language doesn’t make someone a racist. Based on the actual facts of the case and ignoring the race-baiting, I’m of the opinion that Zimmerman may be guilty of poor judgment but not guilty of murder. But a fair trial is not even possible because the MSM poisoned the well from the very get-go.

A word addressing a persons race spoken with hatred is indeed racial in* every* sense.
Yes - Cracker is indeed meant to be an insult. Yes, it is indeed a morally equivalent hate word in comparison with the N word. Neither word was designed to engender respect. There are no special class citizens that get to call another race derogatory terms because they are special. Period. No matter how much the social manipulators would like you to believe it.

 

[Tarpeian]

Cracker is mildly racist, but it is simply not an equivalent term term to the “N” word. I don’t think anybody shrugged off Trayvon using the term. The phrase he uttered gained notoriety because it showed that Trayvon realized he was being racially targeted and responded by returning the favor.

A few may be trying to down play its racist overtones, but only because they realize the phrase adds controversy by painting the victim in a manner favorable to Zimmerman.

“Cracker is mildly racist, but it is simply not an equivalent term term to the “N” word.”

According to who and what standard?

 

[prodigalson2011]

Just a little etymological note: as I understand it, the term “cracker” is an abbreviation of “whip-cracker”; a reference to slave-owners.

Not-so-fun fact.

 

[Nimzovik]

Indeed. I would like evidence of this.

 

[Nimzovik]

Another term I would take umbrage at is ‘Redneck.’

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

I had never heard the expression until I spent time in Florida /Georgia, I just assumed whites were referred to as crackers because crackers are white or because crackers crumble easily , who knows. As for name calling, I don’t believe in it ,it is not nice, and I try very hard to refrain from it myself.Peace, Carlan

I remember hearing ‘Georgia Crackers,’ when I was growing up in Northern Florida. I don’t know the origin of the term though.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

Another term I would take umbrage at is ‘Redneck.’

Some people don’t mind being called a redneck. They will actually say that they are. Others mind it.

 

[LegoGE1947]

I remember hearing ‘Georgia Crackers,’ when I was growing up in Northern Florida. I don’t know the origin of the term though.

Kind of like people from Southern Europe or the Middle East being referred to as “Garlic Eaters” or “Camel Jockeys”