How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. The white man and the whip, the origin of why white people are called crackers by chance kelsey, the term cracker originated in england, it was used to describe a person was a braggart or who told jokes. White trash as a racial slur offtopic wowhead forums. The word was used especially of georgians by 1808, though often extended to residents of northern florida. People of color for example african indentures and slaves and men of property repeated what they heard from white male elites and wrongly white historians racialized it. It is also at times used indiscriminately and pejoratively against any person of white background. Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners. What is the difference between cracker and pretzel. White cracker or more often just cracker was originally a pejorative term for a white person, mainly used in the southern united states.
Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a pejorative term for a white person, mainly used in the southern united states, but in recent decades it has entered common usage throughout north america. The latter derivation is essentially the same as your grandmothers, except that the staple food of poor farmers was cracked corn, not crackers. And blacks dont like us because they think were whiteys. Describing a jewish person as jewish is nonemotional and accurate. Isnt it racist when you call a white person cracker. You may also know cracker jack as a snack of candied popcorn and peanuts. The term dates back to the american revolution, and is derived from the cracked corn which formed their staple food. Cracker term cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a term for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. The online etymology dictionary is the internets goto source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of english words, phrases, and idioms. These stories are not about the nword and cracker the atlantic. The word cracker at its absolute worst is a mean insult, kind of like being called a white loser on the school yard. The latter derivation is essentially the same as your grandmothers, except that the staple food of poor. When a nonwhite person calls a white person a cracker.
Titled celtic christmas, this second solo album from tommy is a real cracker. As nouns the difference between cracker and saltine is that cracker is a dry, thin, crispy, and usually salty or savoury biscuit or cracker can be uspejorativeracial slur an impoverished white person from the southeastern united states, originally associated with georgia and parts of florida. Hard breadbiscuit sense first attested 1739, though hard wafer sense attested 1440. Cracker, the old standby of anglo insults was first noted in the mid 18th century, making it older than the united states itself. Hawaiian is a hawaiian term for individuals who are not native hawaiian or polynesian.
Us, derogatory, ethnic slur an impoverished white person from the southeastern united states, originally associated with georgia and parts of florida. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a usually pejorative term for a white person, mainly used in the southern united states. A cracker is not a slave owner or overseer cracking a whip. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida, georgia or texas see florida cracker, georgia cracker or texas cracker. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. Wikipedia also offers a proposed etymology of the term coming from the sound of the whips used by southern whites on their livestock. Jan 16, 2007 cracker the white man and the whip, the origin of why white people are called crackers. Obviously itll vary from person to person and i know the etymology of the word, but my boyfriend and i interpret it really differently. Cracker the white man and the whip, the origin of why white people are called crackers by chance kelsey, chance. Sense of computer cracker, crack, cracking, were promoted in the 1980s as an alternative to hacker, by programmers concerned about negative public associations of hack, hacking creative computer coding. It has been taken as an offensive and derogatory term to people of caucasian or european descent and is largely considered a slur in modern usage. Cracker the white man with the whip chancellorfiles.
Folk etymology claims the term originated either from their cracking, or pounding, of corn rather than taking it to mill, or from their use of whips to drive cattle. But dare compares corncracker kentuckian, also poor, lowclass white farmer of georgia and north carolina 1835, u. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a usually pejorative term for a white person, mainly used in the southern united states, but in recent decades it has entered common usage throughout north america. To me, its just kinda ribbing and not mean spirited, and its more just saying youre a plain white people kinda in par with mayonnaise jokes. Cracker has also been used as a proud or jocular selfdescription.
The final was a real cracker with some marvellous pitching from both sides. Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. Sep 28, 2019 whitey comparative whitier, superlative whitiest alternative form of whity a whiteybrown colour. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible enough to be used by anyone. From wikipedia the term redneck is a derogatory term chiefly used for a rural poor white person of the southern united states. Cracker can also be used as an offensive term for a. Its also anything that cracks, like a firecracker or a computer code cracker, or of course, that thin, savory snack that cracks when you break it. Dubious sources, such as wikipedia, tell us it is a usually derogatory term for white people. A term in southeastern united states english to describe poor white trash, derived from the scottish meaning of the verb to crack, which, in this sense denotes ostentation. A cracker would also design software like a wordcrackword, wordtrojanword or wordvirusword. One theory holds that the word derives from corncracker, a traditional slang name for poor white people from certain southern states. A term in southeastern united states english to describe poor white trash, derived from the scottish meaning of the verb to crack, which, in this sense denotes. Nov 29, 2009 describing a jewish person as jewish is nonemotional and accurate. What is the origin of cracker as an ethnic slur for.
Cracker is just the same thing as the crackerman but dropping the man part and just leaving the shorthand cracker. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the slangit team. Northeast florida directory what is the cracker coast. This is where the expression crack a joke originated. Just like a black person calling a black person n couldnt be a racist use of the term, but it takes on that connotation if used by a white person. To call a jewish person a yid is insulting and demeaning, both for the person who says it and the victim of the insult. It is also illegal and can lead to serious consequences. Its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time. Although originally a classist term, meaning the same as poor white trash, it has evolved through usage to be a derogatory term for someone considered a w. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. A few reasons why cracker doesnt compare to the nword by.
A white woman to a black person, or a black woman who acts too much like a white one. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a colloquial term for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. Is the term cracker acceptable to use in a pejorative. A term in southeastern united states english to describe poor white trash, derived from the scottish meaning of the verb to crack, which, in this sense. The 1911 edition of the encyclopedia britannica, notes that cracker is a term of contempt for the poor or mean whites, particularly of georgia and florida. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging is it. The epithet cracker has been applied in a derogatory way, like redneck, to rural, nonelite white southerners, more specifically to those of south georgia and north florida. Deny a white person a seat near the front of a bus. If a black person were to say white trash it would take on the connotation of race. A group of persons who misuse computer knowlegde to gain access to a computing system, leaving a trail of destruction behind. White people seemed to be up in arms because michael che who is a part of the weekend update team on saturday night live used.
Charlie mildly derogatory term used by african americans, mainly in the 1960s and 1970s, to refer to a white person from james baldwins play, blues for. Etymology there are various theories concerning the origin of the term cracker. One theory holds that it originated with disadvantaged corn and wheat farmers. Its usage is similar in meaning to cracker, hillbilly especially regarding appalachia and the ozarks, and white trash. When a nonwhite person calls a white person a cracker, what. Alternative form of whity a whiteybrown colourafricanamerican vernacular, derogatory, ethnic slur a white person, a person of european descent. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states.
Crackerjack definition of crackerjack by merriamwebster. Cracker, is a term of contempt for the poor or mean whites, particularly of georgia and florida. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. As nouns the difference between cracker and pretzel is that cracker is a dry, thin, crispy, and usually salty or savoury biscuit or cracker can be uspejorativeracial slur an impoverished white person from the southeastern united states, originally associated with georgia and parts of florida. Mar 26, 2018 its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time. To call a white person a cracker is insulting, although i am not sure of the derivation. If a black person calls you a cracker, you can pick up your ball and go home if you want to, but you dont get to cry racism. But dare compares corn cracker kentuckian, also poor, lowclass white farmer of georgia and north carolina 1835, u. Why white people saying the nword isnt the same as black. Information and translations of cracker in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions. In the last 100 years it has become a friendly and jocular term, with rare examples of derogatory usage. Information and translations of cracker in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.
It has been suggested that white slave foremen in the antebellum south were called crackers owing to their practice of cracking the. The term cracker originated in england, it was used to describe a person was a braggart or who told jokes. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. The term white trash is arguably more socially acceptable than most other racial slurs. The words cracker and white trash are the predominate slurs used against the caucasian race. We are constantly updating our database with new slang terms, acronyms, and abbreviations.
He also scored a cracker of a goal in the firsthalf. What is the origin of cracker as an ethnic slur for white. Mostly confused with the term wordhackerword, hackersword. The latter explanation makes sense, because in piney. Cracker is not the same as the n word comedy, tragedy or me. Offensive terms for white people i consider myself an insult aficionado, and i am particularly interested in the etymology of various offensive epithets all part of the growing field of research i created, misanthropology, which is the study of peoples hatred for each other. However, it is sometimes used in a neutral or positive context or selfdescriptively with pride in reference to a native of florida or georgia. Is the term white trash acceptable to use in a pejorative fashion. Joe cole scored a cracker of a goal, but norwich were certainly not outclassed, except up front. While miss ann, also just plain ann, is a derisive reference to the white woman, by extension it is applied to any black woman who puts on airs and tries to act like miss ann.
The white man with the whip was called the cracker man. The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white people. When a nonwhite person calls a white person a cracker, whats generally the intent. Today, cracker is often used as a derogatory term for a white person for obvious reasons. The online etymology dictionary traces the slur cracker poor, white trash either to crack to boast or to corncracker poor white farmer. Cnn had a remarkable discussion panel this weekend, thanks to the presence of george zimmerman and paula deen in the news, in which. There would seem to be a contingent who feel that martins use of cracker was the equivalent of a white persons using the nword. This page explains what the slang term cracker means. The oldest usage in the americas did not imply slave masters and instead were in reference to poor appalachian whites, so the whip theory seems doubtful, though it could be a case of two pejoratives developing independentlyor one older pejorative taking on a new meaning to new users.
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