# Use of the word Cracker **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 23, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446 "2015-02-23T21:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/21 "2015-02-24T01:59:32Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > It does have racist meanings, since it’s applied to only one group, based on race. So, if I say that I live in a very WASP-y building, have I just used a racist slur? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/22 "2015-02-24T02:00:50Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Can posters refer to a specific group among black people as “niggas”? What group would that be? ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/23 "2015-02-24T02:02:22Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > My questions was that if _cracker_ is allowed (which I agree is no where as offensive as _nigger_), is there an insult that could be leveled against a black person that would be the equivalent to “cracker”. I used to hear [this](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=country) way back when I was a child in the city (New York): > [@](#): > > **Country** > [ul] > [li]An insult.[/li][li]A person, generally African American, who grew up or now lives in the rural deep south.[/li][li]A person, generally African American, who is not sophisticated.[/li][/ul] > > \*Keshia thinks she all that living in LA but she’s just country. > \* Haven’t heard it in a while though. Does anyone think it’s too offensive today? No idea. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/24 "2015-02-24T02:05:20Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > It does have racist meanings, since it’s applied to only one group, based on race. By that standard, “white” and “Caucasian” are also racist. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/25 "2015-02-24T02:06:33Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > It does have racist meanings, since it’s applied to only one group, based on race. It’s already been pointed out to you that this is wrong. Continuing to repeat it won’t make it correct. > [@](#): > > But nigger and raghead are verboten, aren’t they? What’s the difference? Depends on context. After all, you just used them. > [@](#): > > On preview, jocular? Really? Would you consider a reference to a group of African-Americans as “niggers” jocular? The word “nigger” is not equivalent to the word “cracker” in it’s usage or offensiveness, which fact you refuse to acknowledge. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/26 "2015-02-24T02:07:39Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > It does have racist meanings, since it’s applied to only one group, based on race. Based on that logic, “white” and “black” are racist. It is applied to only one racial group because it was applied to a specific group of people 400 years ago who happened to be white and their descendants share the sobriquet, today. It was not applied to people because they were white until it became a specific insult in a specific context referring to the people who were already given that title. Used in that context, it would be an insult that is prohibited on the SDMB. Again, based on your logic, it would be racist to refer to [the Gullah or Geechee](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gullah) by the name by which they identify themselves, simply because the people so identified are black. And there is no insult associated with the words Gullah or Geechee. Not every indication of race is inherently insulting or racist. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/27 "2015-02-24T02:11:17Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Not every indication of race is inherently insulting or racist. But you allow some, and not others. Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/28 "2015-02-24T02:14:42Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > But you allow some, and not others. Why is that? Because some are not inherently… hey! Is this a trick question? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/29 "2015-02-24T02:17:50Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > But you allow some, and not others. Why is that? > [@tomndebb](#): > > Not every indication of race is inherently insulting or racist. Try reading that again. I guess we can go in circles like this for a while. Suit yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/30 "2015-02-24T02:18:52Z")
Or, consider the word “Jew.” It can be used offensively, as in “He wanted fifty bucks for it, but I Jewed him down to $35.” Does that mean that all uses of the word “Jew” are offensive? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/31 "2015-02-24T02:26:24Z")
Obviously, the moderators disagree with my position, so I will drop it. Some animals are more equal than others. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/32 "2015-02-24T02:27:08Z")
In general use the last 200 years, to call someone a “nigger” is to disparage them because they are black. Certainly a racist term, used to disparage someone because they happen to be of a “race,” whatever that means. in general, to use the term “cracker” to refer to a subset of poor Southern whites isn’t the same as it doesn’t disparage the target for being White, rather it is used to describe a small subset of Southern Whites. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/33 "2015-02-24T02:45:42Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Or, consider the word “Jew.” {…} “He’s a Jew” vs “He’s a Jew” if you heard me _say_ those two phrases you’d have no doubt which one was expressing antisemitism. (In written form, context is everything!) My two cents; if your not sure if _you_ can use a word, what you’re saying is probably going to be offensive. CMC fnord! Who uses the word “nigger” . . . in the proper context! ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/34 "2015-02-24T03:05:46Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > “He’s a Jew” > vs > “He’s a Jew” > if you heard me _say_ those two phrases you’d have no doubt which one was expressing antisemitism. (In written form, context is everything!) Louis CK performs a bit exactly based on this point–that it’s the only circumstance where the polite word for a group and the insult for it are the same, just with a little ‘stank’ on it. It’s, um, hilarious. 😃 NSFW just in case. It’s from 5:46 - 6:42: [From “Hilarious,” his standup.](http://youtu.be/hLoqhvZ1SZI?t=5m46s) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/35 "2015-02-24T04:08:36Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Some animals are more equal than others. Especially animal crackers. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/36 "2015-02-24T04:39:49Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > In general use the last 200 years, to call someone a “nigger” is to disparage them because they are black. Certainly a racist term, used to disparage someone because they happen to be of a “race,” whatever that means. > > in general, to use the term “cracker” to refer to a subset of poor Southern whites isn’t the same as it doesn’t disparage the target for being White, rather it is used to describe a small subset of Southern Whites. I hesitate to get into a language debate with you Sam, because you know your stuff, but in this case, I need to quibble. For at least a few decades, (60s-80s, at least) a cracker would often say of a black man, “That Joe there, he’s a good fella, for a darkie\*, not like those other niggers.” The claim was that “nigger” referred to a subset of black people who were shiftless, thuggish and/or lazy. Clearly this was a bullshit way of being racist, but at the same time, it’s exactly the argument being used. “Well, when _I_ say “cracker”, I don’t mean to insult ALL white people, just poor, rural, shiftless, Southern ones.” That said, I’m not arguing with your general point, just the specific argument. There’s clearly a problem with any argument that doesn’t acknowledge the huge…power? impact? that the word “nigger” has (and that cracker, plainly doesn’t). Both are insulting, in the same sense that caps for an old cap-gun and a nuclear bomb are both explosives… \*or whatever the somewhat less pejorative term of the day was ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/37 "2015-02-24T04:42:14Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > Obviously, the moderators disagree with my position, so I will drop it. > > Some animals are more equal than others. You have a funny definition of “dropping it.” ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/38 "2015-02-24T04:57:01Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Or, consider the word “Jew.” It can be used offensively, as in “He wanted fifty bucks for it, but I Jewed him down to $35.” Does that mean that all uses of the word “Jew” are offensive? As a verb? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/39 "2015-02-24T06:21:42Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Especially animal crackers. That’s racist! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446/40 "2015-02-24T14:30:54Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Cracker, used as an insult by blacks against whites, only came into currency in the last few decades. (I am not saying that there was no such use in previous years, but it was rare.) Cracker, used as a self-identifying expression by whites of Florida and Georgia has a much longer history and was and is still in use, generally as a jocular reference. I’ve always heard/read “cracker” as a term equal to “poor white Georgia trash” who would crack the whip over their one mule or slave as the wealthy plantation owner rode past - trying to make himself the equal of the rich. It was considered quite an insult - at least back in the 1800s. I don’t know if it makes the word more offensive but that is the origin I was taught at Pitt. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-the-word-cracker/713446.md?page=3)