Posted on 06/28/2013 6:00:09 AM PDT by RummyChick
At the merciful close of key prosecution witness Rachel Jeantels testimony in the trial of George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin, defense attorney Don West asked Ms. Jeantel to describe the culture that she said uses the word cracker to describe white people. The area I was raised in? Jeantel asked, to which West replied Yes.
As it turns out, in the area in which Rachel Jeantel was raised, the word cracker isnt a racial slur at all, but rather, a proud nod to the regions history, and ones own ancestry.
A whole mess of white people like to get worked up about the word cracker, some in the mistaken belief that this will somehow result in permission to use the n-word. Heres a secret for you: you dont need permission. This is America, go ahead and say it, and in the process, youll find out if cracker and the n-word are really the same thing.
Some of that worked-upedness has occurred over Rachel Jeantels revelation that Trayvon Martin referred to his eventual killer, George Zimmerman, as a creepy-ass cracker, which the Zimmerman defense has tried to capitalize on as a sign of racial animus on Mr. Martins part. Jeantel denied that there was anything racial about the comment, which many found strange. The term is, indeed, a somewhat derogatory term for white people. However, in Florida, the word cracker is anything but.
Many years ago, during a visit to Orlandos Gatorland, one of the trainers regaled the group of tourists I was with by explaining the origins of the word cracker as a description of Floridians of pre-Civil War ancestry. He explained that Florida cowboys used whips to herd cattle, and to scare away gators, and were called crackers because of the sound of their incessant whip-cracking. He also explained that although the term is derogatory in much of the country, in Florida, its a source of pride.
In fact, the Wikipedia entry for Cracker (pejorative) even notes the distinction:
Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a sometimes pejorative expression for white people, especially poor rural whites in the Southern United States. In reference to a native of Florida or Georgia, however, it is sometimes used in a neutral or positive context and is sometimes used self-descriptively with pride.
Now, it is entirely possible that Rachel Jeantel was referring to the common, derogatory use of the word, perhaps even likely, but its also possible that she and/or Trayvon Martin were referring to the non-pejorative use of the word, especially given Jeantels insistence that the word isnt racial, and is region-specific. Don West, who looks like he ought to know the difference, never bothered to ask. Its possible he just assumed the derogatory meaning, but youd have to ask him why he would do that, why he would assume that two Florida residents could not have been using a Florida-specific colloquialism.
The non-pejorative use seems to imply that one is a native-born Floridian.
I doubt that’s what Trayvon Martin meant when he described George Zimmerman as a “creepy-ass cracker.”
But there were in fact some black cowboys in Florida at that time, at least one of whom, Lawrence Silas, went on to become a successful rancher.
Men like Lawrence Silas a famed Cracker cowman from Kissimmee, Fla. is but one of many whose sweat and blood created better breeds to feed a growing nation. The family history of many like him played out on the prairie of time, the swamps of trial.
I’m not sure of the exact route, but I know they end up in downtown Fort Pierce by the Indian River Lagoon. I get to see them because it is always on Saturday and I am there selling soap at the craft market there.
I love seeing them too. Even though it makes me miss my horse (she had to be put down a few years ago) it does my heart good to see so many riders honoring an important part of Fl history.
I’m sorry about your horse, I had to put one down 3 years ago that I had for 14 years. It’s awful. You didn’t get another?
I do believe it was rattlesnakes that the cattle drivers scared away with their whips as I doubt any self respecting gator would venture close to a herd of cattle, horses and riders.
Tommy Christopher = idiot
No, major change in health and budget slopped that option. I need to go see the stables where I used to keep her and get a dose of horse time; some of the best medicine for the soul I know.
PS, thanks for your kind words.
iWannaBAhBILLIONAIRE @Pretty__Vette
Trayvon Martin need justice ! Gimme me tha pistol ill kill Zimmerman myself!
4:26 PM - 26 Jun 2013
******
@ZackSlaterExe
If they don’t kill Zimmerman Ima kill me a cracka
5:54 PM - 26 Jun 2013
******
Vonni Versace @Dat_Nigga_Vonni
If #Zimmerman get off ima shoot the first #hispanic/white i see
8:33 AM - 27 Jun 2013
No need to thank me....and If I get to the Ft. pierce End of the Cracker Trail ride, I'll look for your booth!
wikipedia says in florida it’s a positive term.
which prosecution lawyer got in and edited the wiki entry?
Not only Florida-born, but Florida- (or South Georgia-) born for several generations and from a rural or small town environment. I doubt that either Trayvon or his lovely lady even knew that meaning of the word!
No, and I actually think when blacks use the term they mean it in a derogatory manner. The white farmers say it about themselves in a pride kind of way or so I have noticed.
I am actually an admitted racist and proud of it ;)
Yes, black who are crackers are sometimes referred to as crackers.
http://florida-agriculture.com/kids/education/butler/painting_crackercowman.html
There is nothing shameful about being a Florida cracker. That is not the same thing as a creepy ass cracker.
Niggardly is not the same thing as nigger.
There is nothing racist about calling a raccoon a coon.
How the author cannot see that parallel is beyond me, that jumped out to me as well. We have a huge cohort of people unable to do the slightest bit of independent critical thinking.
Really? Down in Miami where Trevon's girl friend lives?
Kind of doubt that my friend. Ain't no cowboys there and to her and Travon who had no idea where the word Cracker came from, it only meant one thing.
My answer was to the question that was asked. I provided a link to support the truthfulness of the answer. It’s rather disingenuous to change the question after the answer has been given.
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