is the word 'cracker' racist?

[Rusk]

why is caucasian racist?
is anything that refers to, or highlights race, racist?

"The term "Caucasian race" was coined by the German philosopher Christoph Meiners in his The Outline of History of Mankind (1785). Meiners' term was given wider circulation in the 1790s by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, a German professor of medicine and member of the British Royal Society, who is considered one of the founders of the discipline of anthropology. Meiners' treatise was widely read in the German intellectual circles of its day, despite muted criticism of its scholarship. Meiners proposed a taxonomy of human beings which involved only two races (Rassen): Caucasians and Mongolians. He considered Caucasians to be more physically attractive than Mongolians, notably because they had paler skin; Caucasians were also more sensitive and more morally virtuous than Mongolians. Later he would make similar distinctions within the Caucasian group, concluding that the Germans were the most attractive and virtuous people on earth. The name "Caucasian" derived from the Southern Caucasus region (or what is now the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia), because he considered the people of this region to be the archetype for the grouping."

Anyway this is Caucasian:

Not this:

 

[drstrangelov]

For a term to be racist, I believe there are two requirements. Someone from the group being described with the questionable term needs to be offended or hurt, and some reasonable large number of people who represent the group using the potentially racist term need to feel guilt over using it. In that sense I don't think cracker qualifies.

But, that changes with time. I believe young white Americans are developing some oppression envy and are growing more likely to feel offended than their thicker skinned ancestors. But, I don't know if there's a corresponding guilt on the part of non white groups who may use the term. That owes in part to how goofy the term is, it's never had a place as pure hate speech (the pre-racist state of a phrase before guilt where offense is commonly taken), and has instead been a kind of comically taken rejoinder to well felt racism stemming from the cracker delegation.

 

[Outkast]

Covers this around 1:20

[YT]lxxI4USXv4o[/YT]

 

[SMillard]

wouldn't mind it as much except it is almost always proceeded by "stupid ass" or "crazy ass". Like the time I was working on a bridge in Liberty city and a guy started throwing rocks at me calling me a stupid ass cracker.

Those trying to explain away something are really reaching. It is all a matter or intent or perception. If someone's intent is to be derogatory and demeaning then it is, if someone on the receiving end feels that it is derogatory and or demeaning then it is.

And the argument a couple of rocket scientists here have made that "if you are offended by it then you are stupid and a bitch", grow the hell up Your false bravado and pseudo intellectualism isn't very convincing.

 

[SMillard]

"The term "Caucasian race" was coined by the German philosopher Christoph Meiners in his The Outline of History of Mankind (1785). Meiners' term was given wider circulation in the 1790s by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, a German professor of medicine and member of the British Royal Society, who is considered one of the founders of the discipline of anthropology. Meiners' treatise was widely read in the German intellectual circles of its day, despite muted criticism of its scholarship. Meiners proposed a taxonomy of human beings which involved only two races (Rassen): Caucasians and Mongolians. He considered Caucasians to be more physically attractive than Mongolians, notably because they had paler skin; Caucasians were also more sensitive and more morally virtuous than Mongolians. Later he would make similar distinctions within the Caucasian group, concluding that the Germans were the most attractive and virtuous people on earth. The name "Caucasian" derived from the Southern Caucasus region (or what is now the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia), because he considered the people of this region to be the archetype for the grouping."

Anyway this is Caucasian:

Not this:

but aren't both examples wearing snuggies?

 

[Madmick]

maybe it deserves a thread

Please no.

 

[Rusk]

but aren't both examples wearing snuggies?

Lol!

Spoiler

 

[Bay Area]

If you call someone a "cracka", its not racist

If you call someone a "cracka ass cracka ass cracka", then it becomes racist.

 

[Madmick]

If you call someone a "cracka", its not racist

If you call someone a "cracka ass cracka ass cracka", then it becomes racist.

I thought you were going to do the thing where "cracker" is racist, but you took it another way. I was pleasantly surprised. How you gonna borrow a fry, cracka? You gonna give it back?!!

 

[Torami]

speak for yourself. not everyone is is non white wants to be labeled as black. have you ever thought of that?

Gotcha. So white, not white, and other. Race problem solved

 

[kpt018]

You would laugh because cracker hasnt been ingrained in your psyche as an affront to your entire being the way the n word has for african americans.

Yeah, the two words aren't even comparable.

Every time I've heard the word cracka used, even by black guys, it is always in a goofy, joking way. I don't even know what the stereo type would be. What, rich and educated? I suppose it could mean nerdy, stiff or unathletic or something.

Anyone who thinks cracka = n-bomb is an asswipe.

 

[Big Nasty Edison]

Yes, it is a derogatory slur. But a majority of the people it is used against do not find it as offensive to them as other races find their slurs towards them in my opinion.

 

[Bay Area]

I thought you were going to do the thing where "cracker" is racist,

I thought about that actually.

But then I said

"Hey, why not go with a more creative angle? Something that seems clich

 

[mudflap mike]

i wonder why this thread wasnt dumped?

 

[Madmick]

i wonder why this thread wasnt dumped?

Why would it be dumped?

 

[mudflap mike]

Why would it be dumped?

looking at the front page, you must have met your quota for the day

 

[Bay Area]

looking at the front page, you must have met your quota for the day

Zing!

 

[Madmick]

looking at the front page, you must have met your quota for the day

That's a cute way of dodging the question (and implicitly admitting that you have no answer). Go troll another thread. This one's silly, but there's no reason to dump it.

 

[Lovestorm]

We would probably be called racist for taking offense to it...and called racist for using the term "we".

 

[panamaican]

Tough call. It can certainly be used in a racist manner. Also, the speaker is definitely a bigot.

The only argument I have against it being racist is that racism requires a belief about the entire race, not just an individual, and I tend to see cracker used against individuals, not white people as a group. "Tend" obviously not meaning always. Also, the word lacks the same reference value as some other terms. Cracker only applies to specific type of white person while the "n" word or comments about the shape of Asian peoples eyes are applicable to all members of those groups.

Someone people probably do use it against white people as a group so in those cases...yes, to racist. In cases where it's only against an individual, "no" to racist, "yes" to bigot.