Jul, 2010 crackers is a southern derogatory term for whites. Crackerbarrel 1861 barrel full of soda crackers for sale was such a common feature of old country stores that the phrase came to be used by 1905 as an adjective, emblematic of downhome ways and views. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. May 16, 2020 sense of computer cracker, crack, cracking, were promoted in the 1980s as an alternative to hacker, by programmers concerned about negative public associations of hack, hacking creative computer coding. Various theories exists regarding this terms application to poor white southerners. Ethical hacking chapter 1 questions flashcards quizlet.
In fact, the wikipedia entry for cracker pejorative even notes the. Back in the 1700s, cracker was a derogatory term used by american whites to describe poor southerners of their own race. Folk etymology claims the term originated either from their cracking, or pounding, of corn rather than taking it to mill, or from their use of whips to drive cattle. Wikipedia also offers a proposed etymology of the term coming from the sound of the whips used by southern whites on their livestock. I believe it is derived from plantation owners who cracked the whip to keep slaves in line. Cracker dictionary definition cracker defined yourdictionary. Definition of the slang term cracker with an example. Trayvon martins use of the term cracker doesnt make him a racist. It may consist of numerous things, but often starts with ramen noodles offered inside prison commissaries to which other stuff tend to be included, including tuna for a tuna boona, mayonnaise, mozzarella cheese dust, broken crackers, summer time sausage, etc.
Many of them lived in forests and dug holes in the ground to live in. A derogatory term for unskilled crackers or hackers who steal program code and use it to hack into network systems instead of creating the programs themselves. What does the racial term cracker mean and how did the term. He also explained that although the term is derogatory in much of the country, in florida, its a source of pride. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia see florida cracker and georgia cracker. A term in southeastern united states english to describe poor white trash, derived from the scottish meaning of the verb to crack, which, in this sense denotes ostentation. It struck my ears as dated, like ofay or honky, the kind of slur an old head like richard pryor might have uttered. Jan 29, 2020 slang term for a dish prepared by inmates in prisons.
Never really got picked up, probably because it sounds a lot like a wheat consumable or a derogatory term for a white hick. Synonyms for cracker at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. A thin crisp wafer or biscuit, usually made of unsweetened dough. Nonetheless, in the late 20th century it could still easily be reapplied negatively, espe. Definition 4 is used as a neutral nickname or term of selfreference. What is the origin of cracker as an ethnic slur for white. Cracker is not a derogatory term for white people and you cant equate it to nigger. The following is a list of ethnic slurs ethnophaulisms that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given ethnicity, or to refer to them in a derogatory that is, critical or disrespectful, pejorative disapproving or contemptuous, or otherwise insulting manner some of the terms listed below such as gringo, yank, etc. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates cnn. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a sometimes pejorative expression for white people, especially poor rural whites in the southern united states. Now it is used as a derogatory term for white people much like. Cracker definition of cracker by the free dictionary. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least.
Jul 01, 20 but it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. As you might have gathered from our blogs title, the code switch team is kind of obsessed with the ways we speak to each other. The term cracker is used as a neutral nickname by inhabitants of georgia and florida. I should explain to your lordship what is meant by crackers. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white people. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer. Its a racial slur nowadays because word meanings and usages change and evolve over time. Theres an ideology which claims that it is impossible to be racist against a dominant racial group, which white people are in america and europe. It is used with disparaging intent and is perceived as insulting. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial slur used for white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. A term in southeastern united states english to describe poor white trash, derived from the scottish meaning of the verb to crack, which, in this sense. People of color for example african indentures and slaves and men of property repeated what they heard from white male elites and wrongly white historians racialized it.
The epithet cracker has been applied in a derogatory way, like redneck, to rural, nonelite white southerners, more specifically to those of south georgia and north florida. Hacker definition controversy currently, hacker is used in two main conflicting ways, one pejorative and one complimentary. This page may contain content that is offensive or inappropriate for some readers. The term cracker can certainly be a racist insult since racism is literally defined as prejudice against people of other races or believing a particular race is superior to another. I dont know how it started but i think it started in georgia during the civil war probably had something to do with hard tack, a cracker eaten by civil war white soldiers. People can usually get away with using it in our reverseracist world. The following is a list of ethnic slurs ethnophaulisms that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given ethnicity, or to refer to them in a derogatory that is, critical or disrespectful, pejorative disapproving or contemptuous, or otherwise insulting manner. Today, cracker is often used as a derogatory term for a white person for obvious reasons.
The original root of this is the middle english word crack1 meaning entertaining conversation one may be said to crack a joke. Dubious sources, such as wikipedia, tell us it is a usually derogatory term for white people. Somehow, black people, nor every other race on the face of the fucking earth, have ever treated people badly. Although originally a classist term, meaning the same as poor white trash, it has evolved through usage to be a derogatory term for someone considered a white person. Corncracker definition, a contemptuous term used to refer to a member of a class of poor white people in the southern u. Targeted towards whites from the south, especially ones who are poor and rural, the term cracker is widely recognized as a racial slur. Theres no dehumanizing context or definition behind it.
The controversy of hacker definition is usually based on the assumption that the term originally meant someone messing about with something in a positive sense, that is, using playful cleverness to achieve a goal. He is a real cracker jack when it comes to getting people to bid. The mouthpiece of the gaming generation, the escapist aims to capture and celebrate the contemporary video gaming lifestyle and the diverse global video game culture by way of indepth features, thought provoking articles and relevant columns authored by leading video game authorities, as well as cuttingedge video shorts, engaging forums and robust social media elements that incorporate the. One theory is that it refers to the cracked corn that was a major part of the diet of poor southern whites. Another theory is that the term refers to whips that crackers used to drive slaves or cattle. The term is often misused in a pejorative context, where cracker would be the correct term. A small cardboard cylinder covered with decorative paper that holds candy or a party favor and pops when a paper.
Jul 11, 2019 if we turn to the formal definition in the internet users glossary under rfc 92, a hacker is a person who delights in having an intimate understanding of the internal workings of a system, computers and computer networks in particular. Nov, 2006 cracker is a contemptuous term for a poor rural white person, especially in georgia or florida. Definition of cracker jack the online slang dictionary. Use of the word in this sense often implies that the poor white person is regarded as bigoted, ignorant, or the like. Although originally a classist term, meaning the same as poor white trash, it has evolved through usage to be a derogatory term for someone considered a w. One theory holds that it originated with disadvantaged corn and wheat farmers. Cracker term given to socalled malicious hackers by the original mit hackers, hoping the media would leave the name hacker alone and not damage the original hackers pristine, snowwhite reputation. But when the nickname is used by outsiders, it is usually with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting by georgians and floridians. A week ago, residents of enchanted broccoli forest discovered the words no crackers. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia. Every monday in word watch, well dig into language that tells us. Since then, its meaning has become more generalized and it is often used by blacks to describe whites, especially racist whites.
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