Cracker was a term used for early cattle ranchers in Florida. Looooong time ago they were called crackers because the bullwhip was their primary tool for herding the cattle. They would "crack" the whip and use the noise (which interestingly is a small sonic boom caused by the end of the whip breaking the sound barrier much like a jet aircraft) instead of yelling which obviously isn't as effective. Everyone in the area just referred to them as "crackers", a term that worn proudly by modern day Florida crackers. However, this was not the basis of the "cracker" used in racial context.
As discussed here "cracker" used as a racial description was indeed based on the good old white saltine cracker. When describing white people a common saying was "white as a cracker" which eventually became just cracker. Initially the term didn't hold any kind of "racial slur" status, it was just as benign as any other word but as time went on and cultures evolved the term took on a negative meaning or hateful description of white people among some blacks, namely the gang culture. "Cracker" is still used, as it's original positive description, among some of the black population but because of it's use now, primarily as an anti-white racial slur by younger inner city blacks, gang members and in the rap/hip hop world, it has being used less and less to avoid being confused as a negative term.
When you hear a black person saying it's not a racial slur they are being truthful, by all rights it's not negative but it has evolved to be primarily negative and, no doubt soon, it won't have any positive meaning. Even today most white people have no idea the word was not a racial anti-white slur not so long ago, so, for all intent and purpose, it has made the transition from positive to negative which makes arguing it's meaning a battle of semantics. (I watched an in depth documentary on the subject..it was very enlightening)
Personally if I were called a cracker it wouldn't bother me at all, I'll just hang on to the original meaning and go from there. Words only have the power we give them so if I don't empower the word it has nothing to hurt or offend me with. I do draw the line on other words though, for example, if you were to call me a b****, I'll calmly, but efficiently, take your naughty bits and wrap them around your head and while you're trying to untie the knot I'll be stomping you into a mud hole and walking you dry. Once I'm done I'll guarantee you'd never call any other woman that without developing a debilitating flinch.
As discussed here "cracker" used as a racial description was indeed based on the good old white saltine cracker. When describing white people a common saying was "white as a cracker" which eventually became just cracker. Initially the term didn't hold any kind of "racial slur" status, it was just as benign as any other word but as time went on and cultures evolved the term took on a negative meaning or hateful description of white people among some blacks, namely the gang culture. "Cracker" is still used, as it's original positive description, among some of the black population but because of it's use now, primarily as an anti-white racial slur by younger inner city blacks, gang members and in the rap/hip hop world, it has being used less and less to avoid being confused as a negative term.
When you hear a black person saying it's not a racial slur they are being truthful, by all rights it's not negative but it has evolved to be primarily negative and, no doubt soon, it won't have any positive meaning. Even today most white people have no idea the word was not a racial anti-white slur not so long ago, so, for all intent and purpose, it has made the transition from positive to negative which makes arguing it's meaning a battle of semantics. (I watched an in depth documentary on the subject..it was very enlightening)
Personally if I were called a cracker it wouldn't bother me at all, I'll just hang on to the original meaning and go from there. Words only have the power we give them so if I don't empower the word it has nothing to hurt or offend me with. I do draw the line on other words though, for example, if you were to call me a b****, I'll calmly, but efficiently, take your naughty bits and wrap them around your head and while you're trying to untie the knot I'll be stomping you into a mud hole and walking you dry. Once I'm done I'll guarantee you'd never call any other woman that without developing a debilitating flinch.
