I’ve been called both honkey. I’ve also been called nigger, despite not being black.
My mom’s Tejano and Catholic, my dad is Jewish with ancestors that lived in what is now Latvia.
Can’t say I’ve been called anything based on all of that (cooking habits aside, I’m about as white bread as you can get), but I did have a friend of vaguely similar background inform me that he had once been called a “Refried Beanie”.
Most slurs addressed to me have been based on politics (mostly on the Internet, where I have managed to be called both a Libtard and a Neo-Con) or my line of work (“Pogue” or “Nonner”, since I work a military admin/communication job as opposed to residing at the pointy end of the spear).
Yeah I been called 'a * Jew! * And am sure some called me a ‘N’ lover behind my back
I think that you’re overdramatizing. Perhaps one in 10000 understand the history of *any *word. Just as many people of all races commit atrocities against others, different race or no, on a daily basis while either using their chosen ethnic slur, or not.
But we aren’t discussing exactly how “orange” entered the English language; we’re talking about a word associated with a stubborn adherence to brutality and degradation and dehumanization, during an age noted for progress in the concept of human rights.*
“Nigger” is a scary word; in my case because I realize I am in the company of person with no respect for my fundamental beliefs or 28% of my fellow citizen (not to mention an unknown to me percentage of the world population).
Words might not hurt someone, but they can certainly scare someone, if said words frequently shortly precede said sticks and stones. Or nooses.
What atrocities are you familiar with that did not include demonization of the victims?
- (although I don’t believe the term was in use then, was it?)