cracker Perhaps you've heard comedian Chris Rock joke about "those cracker-ass crackers" or heard Chef of South Park call the white kids "little crackers." While in these instances calling a white person a "cracker" or "cracka" is meant to be taken in jest, there are some people who feel the label is offensive and not to be taken so lightly. What does "cracker" really mean and where did it come from? The American Heritage Dictionary defines "cracker" as "a disparaging term for a poor white person of the rural, especially southeast United States." In the 1960s, when many white Southerners took a stand against civil rights for minorities, the label became closely associated with white bigotry. Today, the term is more commonly used as a general insult for a "white person." But just how offensive is this label? Some people believe that calling a white person a "cracker" is the equivalent of calling a black person a "nigger." They insist that both labels are racist slurs and therefore deplorable. Others believe that "cracker" is a much less offensive term. They argue that minorities, such as blacks, who have been historically oppressed, have earned the right to vent their frustrations, whereas the white majority has not. Meanwhile, some whites actually embrace the label "cracker" and feel it reflects their Southern rural roots. So, how did the word "cracker" come to be connected with Caucasians in the first place? The origins of the label are uncertain, yet there is little reason to believe it has anything to do with the salty treat parrots call for by name. A common, though not well substantiated theory is that "cracker" comes from the sound of the whip used to drive cattle, or much more disturbingly, to punish a slave. A.C. Kemp of slangcity.com suggests a more academically supported theory that "cracker" derives from the Southern practice of "cracking corn" to make moonshine whiskey. Kemp also points out that Shakespeare used the term "cracker" to describe an arrogant, boastful person--a description that may have been applied to the rugged pioneers of the Deep South. In addition, Ste. Claire, organizer of the exhibit entitled "Cracker Culture in Florida History," suggests that the label may be related to the architectural style known as "Florida Cracker." Incidentally, as some of you techies may already know, there is yet another completely unrelated definition of "cracker." Coined in 1985 as the combination of criminal and hacker, "cracker" in the computer sense describes a hacker who breaks into computer systems to do damage.

Comments

[Davida]

Wow... I've never actually called someone this. I'm black, but really, color of skin should be the last thing we worry about.
To me, assholes come in all shapes, colors and creeds, so why do people pick on races?

[Bella]

hey honestly if you have a problem with the whole US slave history you have a problem with the founding fathers (just saying ALL of them had slaves!!!)and they were all a hell of a lot better then the nuigger we have in office now!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tandi]

im whit i can trace my family back to an old plantaion owner. i am not proud of it and i know how wrong racisum is. but why should i be punished for my ansester misstakes? its not fair to me or to anyone to have to "make up" for somthung your family did a centry befor you were born. honestly i think its just pathetic how the country to day still holds it against white southerns, anyone alive to day wasnt a slave owner, and its not there fault what ther ansestors did we cant change the past we can only learn from it, and from the looks of whats been posted its sad to say alot of you havent....im not say all of you havent just alot..any way racisum is wrong in any form. it doesnt matter if your white black hispanic idain native american ucoslavian or hell if your an alian from mars is your a person you desever respect and thats that you should try to learn from history and you should be respectful of others race background and beliefes!

[white chick!]

yah know what calling me a cracker cause im white is just as bad as calling a black person a nigger and yah know what if they can get all "its racist ist discrimantion" so can we! yah know what i think that any black person who calls a white person a cracekr is a nigger adn viceversa!

[Sha'Kedria]

I do think that African Americans have the right to be mad. Im black but i really dont care about wat people say about me. Im not racist but white people did a horrific thing to black people! They took advantage of us because they were too lazy to do their own work. They insulted, killed, and didt educate us. But revenge is something else because we may not have been the smartest of people but now im a straight A student. But i think any racist insult is wrong and hurtful so both are ignorant and time-wasting! And in the end racists will feel God's wrath because we are equals and if black people are nothing, so are whites, indians, hispanics, etc! No offense to anybody!

[thesmartest]

carina, sweetie, go to a phyciatrist. because you obviouslly do not know anything about black people at all. and i for one think that, if people were to stop stereotyping people instead of meeting them, getting to know them and actually finding out what they are like before you form an opinion about a whole race based off of that one person..this world would be a muchhh nicer place. but we all know thats never going to happen...so why even think about it right?

[Aubrey]

I'm white and native american and I think that white people have the right to complain and stand up against racism directed at them by african americans!

[luvgurl95]

MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK! HAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAH AND I LUBBBBBBB IT! IF U R AGAINST IT, SUCK A DICK!!!

[Cat]

i love all races. i don't streotype like most of you racist people on here. dont spout your equal nonsense when you're stuck in the 1800's. every race has a sterotype, plenty of them may i add.

oooh you called someone a nigger or a cracker, or a foreigner or something stupid. You're the shit! You're way cool! Hold your head up high shit kissing racists, but honestly I don't see what's so good about that.

[Cat]

crap i ment hold "your head up high and mighty", but my point is made here,

[Cat]

i'm black too but i hang out with all races

yeah racism against every color White, Hispanic, Black, Indian,Asian, Iranian

really needs to stop. oh wow, you used a racist word, you called someone a cracker or a nigger, or a foreigner or something stupid like that. You're the shit! You're cool! BULLSHIT, my dears. you're no cooler than the hobo on the street or the little girl on her swingset. you're just a racist, is all. high you head up high and mighty, but i honestly do see what's so good about that

[Awesome McAwesome]

This stands as a testament of what a geek I truly am: I clicked on this page thinking it was about criminal hackers.

[*jenna*=)]

ok, i read the thing now.
i dont find it offensive at all
i'd love to be named after a delicous food starch ;)

[*jenna*=)]

i personally am not anti-label. But racism is bad... lol, i jsut felt like posting something....

[Denise]

I don't think either nigger or cracker should be used it just causes more separation and tension.

[yummy]

using words like 'nigger' and 'cracker' only puts more of a sepparation between black people and white people, and that isnt a good thing

[Sarah]

i find the term 'cracker' offensive, not all white people are of southern descent, and not all white people are rascist. and FYI, black people can be just as rascist as white people, just because someone is african american doesnt give them the right to put down other races, in fact i found the movie 'guess who' incredibly rascist and offensive.

[julia]

i really dont find the word cracker offensive.
im white. yes.
get over it.

like... theres really not a negative connotation with a lot of ppl using the word cracker.
while the word nigger can actually be more offensive.

[d money]

lol u hecka stupid because if somebody called me a cracker i would beat the hell out of them!LoL!

[Jillian]

Lol, you guys are so melodramatic.

[Sara]

I think it's funny how you all are so tough acting on the internet. You really do sound ignorant. Racism is wrong whether you are black or white. If you don't want someone discriminating against you, don't discriminate against them. You shouldn't dish out what you can't take.

[Sara]

I think it's funny how you all are so tough acting on the internet. You really do sound ignorant. Racism is wrong whether you are black or white. If you don't want someone discriminating against you, don't discriminate against them. You shouldn't dish out what you can't take.

[emily]

i agree w/ carina ecept i'm a redneck and consider makeing fun of y'all offensive its in out vocabulary like how spanish roll their tounge on R's and number two their just saying what it ment not saying that i do agree w/ the ef u part though i am white but MANY of my friends are black or Half

[G]

cracker?
i don't find it offensive at all
before i read this, i thought a cracker was a crackhead
it's alot nicer sounding now

[beezyx.]

hmmm . i always thouqht a cracker was this qrain ; preferably wheat substance that you can often eat .