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‘Cracker’ Means Something Entirely Different In Florida: A Source Of ‘Pride’
mediaite ^ | 6/27 | tommy christopher

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: obama; zimmerman
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To: RummyChick

BS. When a Floridian uses it to describe themselves, sure. Or if they are being described by another in friendly manner, okay. When the context is “creepy ass cracka”, coming from a hostile party, then there’s no doubt that it’s a racial slur.


81 posted on 06/28/2013 6:45:02 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Proud_texan

Context exactly.

An example would be how University Michigan people refer to Michigan State University calling them “Sparty”.

While Sparty is the name of the mascot and not the teams (Spartans), UM people use Sparty as a derisive term. The radio guy that started it, a big UM fan, used to add “cute and adorable” to make sure the meaning was clear.

And while some Spartan fans try to downplay its use by using it themselves, it is very clear how UM people and people at ESPN use it.

I believe this is so with Jeanteal.


82 posted on 06/28/2013 6:45:22 AM PDT by School of Rational Thought
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To: SamKeck

I wonder how many times she’s said the word ‘cracker’.


83 posted on 06/28/2013 6:46:19 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: RummyChick

I guess he never heard of indentured servitude.


84 posted on 06/28/2013 6:46:24 AM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: RummyChick

Trayvon: “I think you’re a creepy a$$ cracker. Please don’t be offended- you should take that term as a source of pride. Now- because I like you so much- I’m going to bash your skull into the concrete”...


85 posted on 06/28/2013 6:46:25 AM PDT by Qbert ("The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry" - William F. Buckley, Jr.)
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To: RummyChick
I can call myself and my white friends Crazy-Ass Cracker, but it's racist & offensive for Blacks people to call me that name even though me and my White friends us it all the time.

If Jessie Jackson ever used Crazy-Ass Cracker or Cracker he would be be racist pig and should go to Paula Dean for redemption!

86 posted on 06/28/2013 6:47:17 AM PDT by TexasCajun (Creepy-Ass Cracker)
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To: Proud_texan

My mother used to describe herself as a Florida cracker.


87 posted on 06/28/2013 6:48:02 AM PDT by pbmaltzman
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To: RummyChick
It's an odd word to use.

It can be derogatory AND it can be racist.

I was born in Orlando to parents from Tennessee (Dad was stationed at Orlando/Sanford base).

Mom says I'm hillbilly and cracker and she's not being derogatory with either word! HA!

"It's all good."

Depends on how you throw the words around...

88 posted on 06/28/2013 6:50:04 AM PDT by hummingbird (So many conspiracies. Not enough time.)
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To: OrioleFan
Dick Gregory, a black comedian and one-time Presidential candidate, once said, “The word nigger means shiftless and lazy. So there are black niggers and white niggers.”

Didn't US Senator and progressive icon, Robert "Sheets" Byrd (D-Hell) once make that same statement?

89 posted on 06/28/2013 6:50:39 AM PDT by YankeeReb
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To: YankeeReb
Didn't US Senator and progressive icon, Robert "Sheets" Byrd (D-Hell) once make that same statement?

Yes he did, and unlike Paula Deen, he got to keep his job.

90 posted on 06/28/2013 6:53:35 AM PDT by itsahoot (It is not so much that history repeats, but that human nature does not change.)
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To: RummyChick

Maybe we should all stop walking on eggshells to avoid certain words? Criminalizing speech, taking offense at certain words is pretty stupid. Doesn’t matter what race or skin color you are.

Linking words to automatically assume hate or bigotry is proven by their use is insane.


91 posted on 06/28/2013 6:53:41 AM PDT by listenhillary (Courts, law enforcement, roads and national defense should be the extent of government)
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To: expat1000
"Oh yeah, the non-pejorative, even complimentary meaning goes right along with the preceding “creepy-ass”. So her meaning was something like “creepy-ass upstanding Florida gentleman”. Makes perfect sense. /sarc"

Ha! "creepy-ass upstanding Florida gentleman"

*snicker*

92 posted on 06/28/2013 6:54:57 AM PDT by hummingbird (So many conspiracies. Not enough time.)
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To: hummingbird
Depends on how you throw the words around...

In context, "cracker" apparently meant somebody who needed a beat down.

93 posted on 06/28/2013 6:55:05 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: hummingbird
Depends on how you throw the words around...

Along that line, St. Trayvon called him a Crazy-assed Cracka'. We know TM wasn't a Psychiatrist so it begs the questions, why did he refer to him as crazy assed? Could it be that in TM's thug mind, any cracka that would be following him would have to be crazy? That's the way I take it.

94 posted on 06/28/2013 6:55:14 AM PDT by liberalh8ter (The only difference between flash mob 'urban yutes' and U.S. politicians is the hoodies.)
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To: RummyChick

I’m from Florida and trust me Cracka ain’t no name to be callin me. Its a totally derogatory term used by the bros to describe whitey.


95 posted on 06/28/2013 6:56:29 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: Red Badger

Did anyone else who watched her testimony notice how she was sniffing non-stop throughout her testimony so that the microphone picked it up easily? It was every few seconds for the entire time she was there.

It’s the kind of thing that makes you go, “hmmmmm.”


96 posted on 06/28/2013 6:57:19 AM PDT by LachlanMinnesota
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To: ThomasMore
"Gay had nothing to do with faggots 100 years ago."

"Queer" has certainly been changed in usage, too.

97 posted on 06/28/2013 6:58:10 AM PDT by hummingbird (So many conspiracies. Not enough time.)
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To: RummyChick

The legacy media right on schedule to turn a slur word into a term of endearment to fulfill their race grievance objectives...


98 posted on 06/28/2013 7:00:10 AM PDT by Hotlanta Mike ("Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish - too much handling will spoil it." Lao Tzu)
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To: P-Marlowe

She also explained that “Creepy-ass” meant perverted, if I heard and understood her correctly, when West asked her about it.

So, is “cracker” good or bad when in the context of “perverted cracker?”


99 posted on 06/28/2013 7:00:22 AM PDT by LachlanMinnesota
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To: RummyChick

Now wait a minute. Which cracker is being referred to when the term “cracka” is used?

Saltines? Cheesits? Triscuts? Captains Wafers?

I’m pretty fond of all of them...

... but I need to know which one is being referred to so I can stop eating them so as not to offend anybody.


100 posted on 06/28/2013 7:01:44 AM PDT by moovova
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