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.
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.
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.
I wonder how many times she’s said the word ‘cracker’.
I guess he never heard of indentured servitude.
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”...
If Jessie Jackson ever used Crazy-Ass Cracker or Cracker he would be be racist pig and should go to Paula Dean for redemption!
My mother used to describe herself as a Florida cracker.
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...
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.
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.
Ha! "creepy-ass upstanding Florida gentleman"
*snicker*
In context, "cracker" apparently meant somebody who needed a beat down.
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.
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.
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.”
"Queer" has certainly been changed in usage, too.
The legacy media right on schedule to turn a slur word into a term of endearment to fulfill their race grievance objectives...
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?”
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.
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