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White people, do you consider "redneck" or cracker racist?
- Thread starter Kimawolf
- Start date
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Both are "racist" in the sense that they are tags that are typically only hung on whites. You never hear of black people being called rednecks, even if they live in Appalachia. But redneck isn't really racially offensive. I guess it can be culturally demeaning or offensive depending on use and intention, but it's not racially offensive. "Cracker," on the other hand, is certainly racially offensive most of the time. White people are generally just too blissfully ignorant of the hate to perceive it that way.
I would say no, as a black man.
The statement the guy made was racist though the words aren't. If he said "always these fucking whites" it would still be racist. That doesn't make him a racist but just someone who said a racist thing as pulling their race in his argument.
Redneck is just white ghetto lifestyle.
The statement the guy made was racist though the words aren't. If he said "always these fucking whites" it would still be racist. That doesn't make him a racist but just someone who said a racist thing as pulling their race in his argument.
Redneck is just white ghetto lifestyle.
Count Dookkake
Member
Yeah, just like anyone being called a racist term isn't a huge problem either.
reggieandTFE
Member
Yep.
TrekMonster7
Banned
who let the "racism is power + privilege!!!!" crowd out today?
hbkajshdvfbkjhvgkahsgdfka
Member
Same.
So you welcome racially focused abuse? That's nice. Cracker.
The Faceless Master
Member
so you let your friend cut in line and then got the guy kicked out... don't you see how racist you were in that situation? now this guy is gonna hold an even bigger grudge against people of non-color...
AlexMeloche
Member
I always considered Redneck as a stereotype.
weemadarthur
Member
the word redneck started with unions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redneck
BrokenEchelon
Banned
By definition I consider it racist.
I'm not offended by it because I think it's fucking stupid to be offended by words.
I'm not offended by it because I think it's fucking stupid to be offended by words.
cracker? white people started that mess and they're the first to call someone else white trash. White racist people are the most racist white people to white people. And they'll throw all of that out the window the instant hunger or lust comes into the picture. So really its only about determinate assholism.
IdreamofHIME
Member
I'm not Amercian, the terms mean zero to me.
Tesseract
Banned
Dog Problems
Banned
Nah. "Cracker" has always made me laugh and seems like a bad attempt at an insult.
BinaryPork2737
Unconfirmed Member
Redneck really isn't racist. I mean, is hillbilly racist?
Cracker, on the other hand, can totally be used in racist context. I'm speaking from personal experience.
Racists are huge assholes. Fuck all of them.
Cracker, on the other hand, can totally be used in racist context. I'm speaking from personal experience.
Racists are huge assholes. Fuck all of them.
I laughed also. I think it was the correct response.
RiccochetJ
Gold Member
Not for redneck but I do for cracker.
cracker is the most laughable excuse for a racist term ever, but depending on the context of its use, of course it could be considered racist. However when you are a white person living in America or a similar country, it's hard to be offended since being white is so great (Louis C.K. etc.) That's really where the issue lies, is something merely racist in a textbook way or is it both racist and offensive? Racist terms for other groups of people carry a lot more history and shit with them that can definitely make them offensive.
Redneck is a racial term because it implies the person's skin is fair enough to actually become red while working out in the sun unprotected, and mostly white people have that problem. Also the history of the term is pretty clear in being used almost entirely for whites. I don't see a lot of rednecks, either those that claim the term for themselves or those called that, taking issue with the word. But again, context. If someone uses redneck in a derogatory way towards someone, I don't think you could deny that the word is racially-linked and could be used in a racist way. Would you ever call a black person a redneck? Even a working class black person from a southern state? AFAIK that doesn't happen. Though, it's also about class and I think race and class are aspects where there's a lot of overlap (aka discrimination/hate/bias/whatever) , even if many people chose to downplay the prevalence of that.
Redneck is a racial term because it implies the person's skin is fair enough to actually become red while working out in the sun unprotected, and mostly white people have that problem. Also the history of the term is pretty clear in being used almost entirely for whites. I don't see a lot of rednecks, either those that claim the term for themselves or those called that, taking issue with the word. But again, context. If someone uses redneck in a derogatory way towards someone, I don't think you could deny that the word is racially-linked and could be used in a racist way. Would you ever call a black person a redneck? Even a working class black person from a southern state? AFAIK that doesn't happen. Though, it's also about class and I think race and class are aspects where there's a lot of overlap (aka discrimination/hate/bias/whatever) , even if many people chose to downplay the prevalence of that.
Good cuz a laugh was all I was after.
Honkey.
Oh, wait ... OP didn't go there. Sorry. Redneck.
I agree it's pretty hard to actually be offended by it. But I have certainly seen it used with the intent of offending.
Angelus Errare
Banned
“Cracker takes me back to a time in which I my people owned slaves, it's such a painful time period for my people; they were held back and unable to secure land and built for their future generations…*laughs*.”
Pegosaurus
Banned
no, i don't even consider it insulting
edit: I'm white
edit: I'm white
Tesseract
Banned
i sometimes hate this, because it moves the argument toward reparations, which is all kinds of ridiculous.
BinaryPork2737
Unconfirmed Member
I was offended by the word cracker when a notorious "gang" in high school harassed me and used the phrase "Let's gut this cracker bitch."
speculawyer
Member
I view 'redneck' as pejorative but not racist. It is a term for a country bumpkin as opposed to a sophisticated city person . . . not a term for a white person.
I've never really heard people use 'cracker' except in Chris Rock routines.
I've never really heard people use 'cracker' except in Chris Rock routines.
Dastardly Jerks
Banned
Nah, in Australia they're called bogans.
I don't really consider redneck racist. I used to work with a black man that called himself a redneck, even had a sticker on his truck proclaiming himself one. Cracker and honky just make me laugh. Years ago I was hanging out with some friends outside a store when an older black man stormed past me and said, "Outta the way Honky!" We all fell out laughing.
TheDeadHeroAlistair
Member
That's a somewhat recent development with some people embracing the term for their culture. Which is kind of funny, because the current usage and past usage of the term are quite different.
As for the terms themselves, no, redneck is not racist. Whilst it has links predominantly in white people, I think it's more of a class-based term than a racial one. Cracker, on the other hand, is a racially-slanted term. It does not carry a large amount of meaning to it, but the intent for the term is definitely racist in nature.
For the situation described in the OP, I do believe the terms were both used in a racial context. Despite one term being more class-based, the connotation imposed on "redneck" in the situation is certainly racial.
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
So it's only possible for something to be racist if your family / people were historically oppressed?
BobbyRobby
Member
Nobody is arguing that 'cracker' is as severe.
Just that it is also racist.
Why is that hilarious?
TheDeadHeroAlistair
Member
You are correct. "Sucks" is not comparable to "cunt." But that's mainly because one is an verb and the other is a noun.
I do agree with the statement, though. "Cracker" is certainly not as bad as the "n-word."
NEOPARADIGM
Banned
Actually yeah. Any racial slur disturbs me. I cringe at all of them, because even if used in jest I don't think the person using it ever understands the pain some racial slurs cause.
Redneck however has become a term of endearment these days. It's only used as an insult when someone is obviously not a redneck, as most rednecks wouldn't care and "accept" it as a term to use.
Redneck however has become a term of endearment these days. It's only used as an insult when someone is obviously not a redneck, as most rednecks wouldn't care and "accept" it as a term to use.
Liamario
Banned
Couldn't care less. They're words. People should worry about the intent more and not the words themselves. If someone use the word nigger with the intent of racism or to offend, then the word becomes offensive. The words by themselves are just words and people shouldn't be afraid to say them.
The more you use them the more they lose their power.
The more you use them the more they lose their power.
Yeah. I guess being called white trash would offend me more than cracker or redneck...
I think the OP may be trying to ask a different question.
Racist?.. Well, it's based specifically on race... so yeah.
Hate fueled?.. Usually. Sometimes its used as a joke around when someone is acting like a stereotype.
(I'm assuming this is the real question)
Am I offended by it? Not really.
Racial slurs are created to demean people.
Redneck was originally a term of pride around the 10s-30s for southern blue collar conservatives. As a result, over time it ended up being associated with ignorance and racism from the same group of people and this is what is meant when used as a slur.
Cracker was either derived from poor farmers cracking whips for cattle, slave owners cracking whips, or the bland diet of poor white people. When used as a slur, usually the latter two.
Mostly all racial slurs towards people who aren't white have the weight of historical context that is usually rooted in cultural abuse and white dominance. These are used to treat another cultures as inferior and usually inhuman.
If you notice this context, you realize that Redneck and Cracker exist more as a term of defiance against the cultural dominance of white people because the worst it can really mean in a demeaning sense is poor or bland... Because of this, when white people are equally offended by a relatively tame slur compared to the much more offensive slurs of other cultures, it mocks their cultural suffering.
That being said, responding to hate with hate doesn't make us as a whole any better.
Forgiveness is a hard practice.
Racist?.. Well, it's based specifically on race... so yeah.
Hate fueled?.. Usually. Sometimes its used as a joke around when someone is acting like a stereotype.
(I'm assuming this is the real question)
Am I offended by it? Not really.
Racial slurs are created to demean people.
Redneck was originally a term of pride around the 10s-30s for southern blue collar conservatives. As a result, over time it ended up being associated with ignorance and racism from the same group of people and this is what is meant when used as a slur.
Cracker was either derived from poor farmers cracking whips for cattle, slave owners cracking whips, or the bland diet of poor white people. When used as a slur, usually the latter two.
Mostly all racial slurs towards people who aren't white have the weight of historical context that is usually rooted in cultural abuse and white dominance. These are used to treat another cultures as inferior and usually inhuman.
If you notice this context, you realize that Redneck and Cracker exist more as a term of defiance against the cultural dominance of white people because the worst it can really mean in a demeaning sense is poor or bland... Because of this, when white people are equally offended by a relatively tame slur compared to the much more offensive slurs of other cultures, it mocks their cultural suffering.
That being said, responding to hate with hate doesn't make us as a whole any better.
Forgiveness is a hard practice.
Angelus Errare
Banned
The quotes should have clued you in that those weren't my words. If you're going to quote me for quoting a comedian who dismiss the word, you might wanna edit and add in everyone with the Louis CK, Boondock quotes and vids. Not that I even brought forth the argument that it was only possible for something to be racist if your family /people were historically oppressed.
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