Do white people get offended by the phrase "Cracker"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a black guy, I often here some in our community using the phrase cracker as sort of a slur against white folks. My question to you all is if you find the phrase offensive or even racist?

ignorance, my friend - most likely brought on by poor parenting, lack of education and an insular environment

I've never been called a cracker to my face. However, one of my black students recently told me - in front of the class - that white people don't sweat. I asked him to cite his sources.

may as well use it as a learning experience, right?

I'd say many of us - across races - should UNlearn some twisted thinking.

[Anonymous]

It is offensive and it is racist. Now if it bothers individual people or not is an entirely different matter. I would not want to have a conversation with anyone referring to me as cracker. Or any other derogatory racial slur. Just as much as I wouldn't want anything to do with anyone using racial slurs against other races than my own. It shows ignorance and low class.

[Anonymous]

No. I would laugh if a black person called me cracker.

[Anonymous]

I don't get offended by comments that aren't specifically about me and made by someone who would know about the trait they are insulting. Cracker doesn't strike me as a specific comment. I'm white, I get it, okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. It's just a word.

Just a word. Like jigaboo.

[Anonymous]

I was called it once. Screamed late at night in a sketchy neighborhood. Offended? No. Scared shitless? Absolutely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was called it once. Screamed late at night in a sketchy neighborhood. Offended? No. Scared shitless? Absolutely.

This? Right here? It's why 'offended' and all the faux "oh, I just laugh" comments are just a bunch of 'make myself feel good' statements

The fact is, what PP experienced, should have scared the hell out of him/her and with good reason, just like someone screaming racial slurs at a black individual would make their skin crawl.

At least be honest with yourselves, as PP is.

[Anonymous]

I was called Honkey, cracker etc....it never made me feel inferior to the person calling me that-on the contrary! White superiority is strong-a stupid word cannot weaken it!

[Anonymous]

I was called it once. I was walking out of a shopping plaza in Rockville and an SUV pulled up-- this woman yelled a question at me but I couldn't catch what she was saying because she said it too fast-- "where is..." and I couldn't catch the rest. I said, politely, "What was that?" And she screamed, "You bitch white cracker, you aren't talking to me because I'm black!" and sped off through the parking lot. As she drove off I realized she had been asking me "where is Bou Avenue." I would have been happy to tell her if she hadn't flipped out. This was about 5 years ago and I'm still surprised it happened. Her instant anger at me, apparently because I'm white, was palpable.

[Anonymous]

Yes because it basically means your nothing

[Anonymous]

It doesn't resonate with me so it doesn't offend me. Even if it's meant to offend it just makes me feel kind of sorry and embarrassed for the speaker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was called it once. Screamed late at night in a sketchy neighborhood. Offended? No. Scared shitless? Absolutely.

This? Right here? It's why 'offended' and all the faux "oh, I just laugh" comments are just a bunch of 'make myself feel good' statements

The fact is, what PP experienced, should have scared the hell out of him/her and with good reason, just like someone screaming racial slurs at a black individual would make their skin crawl.

At least be honest with yourselves, as PP is.

[/quote
You're being silly. If I were in a dangerous neighborhood alone at night and, as a woman, a man or group of men screamed anything at me I'd be afraid. If they screamed whitey or honey or sugar or bitch, I would be afraid. I've been called cracker twice, both in broad daylight on a crowded street by a young man who said it and quickly walked away. I was not afraid. I'm not being dishonest.

[Anonymous]

I got into a discussion with a friend about this recently. She feels like "reverse racism" is not real, and white people cannot be the victim of racism. I don't understand her logic.

If someone yelled "cracker" at me, I could see myself being afraid. I may be offended after the fact. I've been called a "bitch" by a stranger and it didn't offend me. It's rude, but I don't think some random person's opinion carries a lot of weight. Being afraid of someone yelling racial slurs seems like a good reason to be afraid.

[Anonymous]

I don't think that a misguided young man who is out to get someone because they are white goes after women. I'd be afraid more if I were male that the person was looking for a fight.

Crime stats make it clear than as a white woman I have less to fear from black men than do black women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got into a discussion with a friend about this recently. She feels like "reverse racism" is not real, and white people cannot be the victim of racism. I don't understand her logic.

If someone yelled "cracker" at me, I could see myself being afraid. I may be offended after the fact. I've been called a "bitch" by a stranger and it didn't offend me. It's rude, but I don't think some random person's opinion carries a lot of weight. Being afraid of someone yelling racial slurs seems like a good reason to be afraid.

Why would cracker be more offensive than bitch? One is based on your sex and one on your skin color.