"white trash" - racist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with OP and 22:07. It's offensive.

Just to clarify, I don't think anyone posting here said the term wasn't offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Trash comes in all colors. Stop overanalyzing.

Agree.

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i dont use that term, i'd call them ghetto.
Ghetto has no boundaries in my vocab. Heck mom is ghetto for using undies as rags.

ghetto is also like cheap to me too

Ghetto to me is black and bario is Hispanic. Not many people white people live in a ghetto. Lots of white people live in trailer parks. So white trash to me is the same as trailer park trash. None of these terms are nice but so is calling whites "hinky," the man," etc.

[Anonymous]

White trash is classist. The application of the term "white" to "trash" implies that most white people are not poor. It also implies that most "trash" is not white, hence the need to qualify with the color.

[Anonymous]

Agree with 23:01. But that doesn't mean I haven't called someone that in my head a few times.

[TheManWithAUsername]

Anonymous wrote:Seems to imply to me that "white" is the ideal, and things done to hurt the brand: being "poor," "tacky," or "ignorant" detract from the ideal.

That’s a good way to put it.

Anonymous wrote:Trash comes in all colors. Stop overanalyzing.

I don’t get it. That seems to ignore the point. If it’s in all colors, why put the “white” in front of it? And why aren’t the terms “black trash,” etc. popular?

Anonymous wrote:To refer to trashy people in other races we were very creative to come up with other bad names.

That’s interesting. I think I buy that. (Not that I’m inclined to use the term anyway.)

Anonymous wrote:this is the problem I have with "reverse racism." What? Racism is naturally and somehow inherently something directed toward black and brown people, so should it ever occur outside of this proper context, we term it "reverse"?

Yeah – I’ve heard that idea before, but I don’t think that’s really the implication. I think it just acknowledges the fact that there has been much more racism in the “normal” direction.

Anonymous wrote:"Self-segregating" is another highly problematic term. It not only absolves individuals of any role played in lunch room (for example) divisions, it's ahistorical, seems to blame people of color for their own marginalization, equates individual action with system policy, and generally gets on my nerves.

Hmm. I think that’s a very different category. I think you’re complaint there is that it’s too small-picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
To totally hijack your thread (sorry) this is the problem I have with "reverse racism." What? Racism is naturally and somehow inherently something directed toward black and brown people, so should it ever occur outside of this proper context, we term it "reverse"?

Bugs me.

"Self-segregating" is another highly problematic term. It not only absolves individuals of any role played in lunch room (for example) divisions, it's ahistorical, seems to blame people of color for their own marginalization, equates individual action with system policy, and generally gets on my nerves.

Thanks for the opportunity to get that off my chest, OP.

You make no damn sense to me so what you are saying is.. only black and brown people face racism???

[Anonymous]

white trash and trailer trash are interchangeable to me.

Also, to the PP that says black = ghetto and hispanic = bario, I've never heard the term bario. Ghetto to me describes people that act a certain way either because they actually live or come from a ghetto or act like they do because they think it's cool. I've seen white people act ghetto.

[Anonymous]

TheManWithAUsername wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems to imply to me that "white" is the ideal, and things done to hurt the brand: being "poor," "tacky," or "ignorant" detract from the ideal.

That’s a good way to put it.

Anonymous wrote:Trash comes in all colors. Stop overanalyzing.

I don’t get it. That seems to ignore the point. If it’s in all colors, why put the “white” in front of it? And why aren’t the terms “black trash,” etc. popular?
Because there are other terms already used. Just curious--if you were going to use a derogatory term for some of the white individuals participating in the fighting, cursing, and arguing on the Jerry Springer Show, what name would come to mind?

Anonymous wrote:To refer to trashy people in other races we were very creative to come up with other bad names.

That’s interesting. I think I buy that. (Not that I’m inclined to use the term anyway.)

Anonymous wrote:this is the problem I have with "reverse racism." What? Racism is naturally and somehow inherently something directed toward black and brown people, so should it ever occur outside of this proper context, we term it "reverse"?

Yeah – I’ve heard that idea before, but I don’t think that’s really the implication. I think it just acknowledges the fact that there has been much more racism in the “normal” direction.

Anonymous wrote:"Self-segregating" is another highly problematic term. It not only absolves individuals of any role played in lunch room (for example) divisions, it's ahistorical, seems to blame people of color for their own marginalization, equates individual action with system policy, and generally gets on my nerves.

Hmm. I think that’s a very different category. I think you’re complaint there is that it’s too small-picture.

[Anonymous]

1st gen Asian American here. Went to the National Arboretum the other day. After we got there I went to the visitors center looking for map. An "African American" woman was at the desk and asked if I was look for a map. I said "yes" and she pointed me to the maps with Asian language. She even had the balls to say "the maps for your people are here". Twice she said that to me. I told her "I can't read anything but English" and she repeated herself. For the 3rd time. Seriously maybe next time I should ask her where the maps in Ebonics are.

[TheManWithAUsername]

Anonymous wrote:

TheManWithAUsername wrote:I don’t get it. That seems to ignore the point. If it’s in all colors, why put the “white” in front of it? And why aren’t the terms “black trash,” etc. popular?

Because there are other terms already used.

That's answer makes more sense, as I said to the person who originally said it.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious--if you were going to use a derogatory term for some of the white individuals participating in the fighting, cursing, and arguing on the Jerry Springer Show, what name would come to mind?

I get the sense that you're not "just curious," but anyway...

I don't think it would be "white trash." I'm not claiming any superiority or anything; it's just not in my regular usage. Probably something like "idiots." Maybe "hicks" or "rednecks," depending on accents, etc. But I have so much prejudice against the South that when I hear a strong Southern accent I almost immediately think the person's ignorant, low-class, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1st gen Asian American here. Went to the National Arboretum the other day. After we got there I went to the visitors center looking for map. An "African American" woman was at the desk and asked if I was look for a map. I said "yes" and she pointed me to the maps with Asian language. She even had the balls to say "the maps for your people are here". Twice she said that to me. I told her "I can't read anything but English" and she repeated herself. For the 3rd time. Seriously maybe next time I should ask her where the maps in Ebonics are.[/quote

bump

[Anonymous]

TheManWithAUsername wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

TheManWithAUsername wrote:I don’t get it. That seems to ignore the point. If it’s in all colors, why put the “white” in front of it? And why aren’t the terms “black trash,” etc. popular?

Because there are other terms already used.

That's answer makes more sense, as I said to the person who originally said it.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious--if you were going to use a derogatory term for some of the white individuals participating in the fighting, cursing, and arguing on the Jerry Springer Show, what name would come to mind?

I get the sense that you're not "just curious," but anyway...

I don't think it would be "white trash." I'm not claiming any superiority or anything; it's just not in my regular usage. Probably something like "idiots." Maybe "hicks" or "rednecks," depending on accents, etc. But I have so much prejudice against the South that when I hear a strong Southern accent I almost immediately think the person's ignorant, low-class, etc.

Nothing special intended by my phrase--I often start e-mails, comments with "just curious," "just checking," "just FYI," etc--maybe it's a southern thing?! I was only trying to hear the term you'd use for the kinds of people that are often described as "white trash." But now you've offended me by saying that you associate a strong southern accent with ignorance? Do you feel that way about blacks and whites who are southern? That would be the same as making the assumption that everyone who sounds like Archie Bunker holds his views about life and people.

[Anonymous]

ehhh, I have to admit that I am prejudiced against New Yorkers. If I hear a strong NY accent, I assume the person is an obnoxious idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i dont use that term, i'd call them ghetto.
Ghetto has no boundaries in my vocab. Heck mom is ghetto for using undies as rags.

ghetto is also like cheap to me too

Ghetto to me is black and bario is Hispanic. Not many people white people live in a ghetto. Lots of white people live in trailer parks. So white trash to me is the same as trailer park trash. None of these terms are nice but so is calling whites "hinky," the man," etc.

Wasn't ghetto originally referring to the areas that the Germans forced Jews to live in during the Weinmar years? I have always thought ghetto referred to a neighborhood designated for outcast subcultures to live in....? I am not sure how it got to mean "black".