Posted on 06/28/2013 6:00:09 AM PDT by RummyChick
At the merciful close of key prosecution witness Rachel Jeantel‘s 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” isn’t a racial slur at all, but rather, a proud nod to the region’s history, and one’s 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. Here’s a secret for you: you don’t need permission. This is America, go ahead and say it, and in the process, you’ll find out if “cracker” and the n-word are really the same thing.
Some of that worked-upedness has occurred over Rachel Jeantel’s 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. Martin’s 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 Orlando’s 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, it’s 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 Jeantel’s insistence that the word isn’t racial, and is region-specific. Don West, who looks like he ought to know the difference, never bothered to ask. It’s possible he just assumed the derogatory meaning, but you’d 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.
Correction-describe
As per usual. The machine is running overtime trying to make excuses.
Ever seen a Black Cracker?
“creepy-ass cracker”.
Yep! That does sound like a very innocent use of the word, cracker. “Creepy-ass” makes “cracker” sound so much more like a word of pride.
I can't believe this author has the audacity to even try and sell this. Why not go full BS and declare Jabba a 'historian'?
Bawhaha, I just love it when commies try and shape the truth. They put pretzel logic to shame.
Rationalization is an art form in the liberal/progressive culture. Gay had nothing to do with faggots 100 years ago. It meant someone was happy-go-lucky and carefree. But we all know how its use changed. Well, same with “cracker”. Among blacks; it’s a derogatory term used for white folks.
Liberals can lie their way into believing anything.
wow...amazing how activist Google is. I typed in “gay” into Google search and the text box automatically got outlined by a rainbow of colors. Using BING from now on.
Yep! That does sound like a very innocent use of the word, cracker. “Creepy-ass” makes “cracker” sound so much more like a word of pride.
Maybe Trayvon and his girlfriend were talking about people who ranched unusual looking donkeys rather than cattle?
No, I'm not buying it either.
Heck, I thought Zimmerman was a beaner anyway, and not even a crackah.
He’s a crackah beaner!!
Total bs. It is a slur that implies every white is a slave master.
Exactly right. As a native, there are distinctions... and don’t forget the demographics of the jury hearing this - they will know the nuances in Seminole County.
And we should take Jeantel’s definition for “cracker”? She can’t read and doesn’t sound like an English honors student to me!
Well Bless my soul! Up is down and black is white.
I didn’t quite say that right: As a native, I know the distinctions - that jury will too.
I think she with what she said, helped the Zimmerman defense yesterday. Had a very hard time understanding her.
I learned a few colorful terms for white folks, while under the direction of a black shop foreman who utterly detested whites, especially young whites working through college. He was a Northern (Philadelphia) black, so he never used the word “cracker.’” He always called me “white bread.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.