What I can't figure out is why blacks can refer to themselves in racist terms, but white people can't.

Question

If they didn't call themselves ****** all the time, then maybe it would be not be misunderstood to be accepted. When you have black comedians, and rappers glorifying the word. it certainly loses it's meaning. Cracker is a racist word, but since white people don't go around calling each other cracker, the word just doesn't carry the effect it could have.

Answer 1

I am with you here...I just don't get it. I don't care what anyone says...it is a double standard. If you don't want others to refer to you as something, don't refer to yourself that way. I am by no means racist...as far as the "n word" yea...there are some out there...in ALL colors. In my opinion, if you want something to stop, you have to put out an effort to stop it first.

Answer 2

What I can't figure out is why it is so important for people to WANT to use that terminology just because they hear one group using it amongst themselves.

Now, did the rappers originate this word or did white slave owners?

There are white comedians who constantly poke fun at white people living in trailer parks or...hmmm...what is that phrase that they use...oh yeah...red necks...if you go into the south and start throwing that word around liberally, what do you think will happen? The red necks there will definitely take offense.

As Nana said, not ALL blacks use that term. Like her, I do not use that word and I don't think ANYONE uses the term "cracker" unless referring to a real saltine. That's why it has no effect on anything. The term became universal when the rappers' songs started selling...and many different cultures help promote that revenue.

We all use the word "beautiful" to describe ourselves. Why arent' we fighting about the use of THAT word?

Answer 3

I believe it goes back to the street lingo the goverment was making a big issue about a several years back. Teachers had to learn the street lingo aand teach in it so the kids could understand, but you don't hear about it anymore. I'm having a hard time keeping up on what a black person should be called and be quote politalicaly correct. Black, african American and so on. Why they do that I believe they think they think its cool and if you pay more attention its usually followed up by a cuss word. Where I work we have just about all walks of life there and everyone is called by name inside and out of work. If we all examined our roots as far as we could we would find out we are all most likely cousins in one way or another.

Answer 4

Yeah, some black people do use the "N" word, but they don't end it with GER, they end it with GA. There's a difference, and you as a white person don't need to understand why, has nothing to do with you and that's that. And yes, some black people can be racist, anyone can, duh. How about leaving black comedians and rappers out of it, would you like someone like Marilyn Manson, or Carrot Top being the poster children for your "race."

Answer 5

It appears white folks are immune to racist epithets, mostly beacuse other races are jealous of the advantages white people have received or taken over the ages. I am white, if someone called me "cracker" i'd just laugh at them. I believe that when black people call each other that word, they form a clique or bond among themselves based upon their similar qualities. It also appears, that besides white people, that smaller ethnic groups seem to stick together for protection from "whitey".

Answer 6

Yet another double standard.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing earlier today... apparently "cracker" is a derogatory term for whites, but it provokes no response in me whatsoever. Whereas calling someone the n-word in a ghetto neighborhood is likely to get you beat up (if you're white.)
If a black doesn't like being called the n-word, then maybe he could, oh I don't know, STOP using and glorifying the n-word?! Duh!

Racism is racism, no matter what color you are.

Answer 7

First of all you can't compare cracker with with n*gger, and not ALL black people call each other that. I don't and I don't like it when othe Black people do that but I can't stop them. Rap music at first was for Black people so that rappers were speaking to other Black people, then it became global and White people bought into it. Unfortunately a lot of the rappers just want to make money so that's why they use the same formula over and over again. But anyway, no one should use that word and if you heard just ignore it.

Answer 8

I wish I had a dime for every time this exact question has been asked on this forum. Why not be unique and try to figure out something to say to a Black person that is civil and decent? Why do you think White people should (openly) be able to insult Black people?

Answer 9

I wonder the same thing. I guess it is just a cultural thing, but it is something that I always think is so ironic. White people buy rap music and the N word is used a lot and they sing along to it, but can not say the word out loud around people in normal conversation. I know that it is rude to use that word or others of course, but it is odd that people use that word referring to each other in their race and not want other people to call them that. Oh well, it is just one of those cultural taboos.

Answer 10

Oh God if you really feel like you need to say the word then say it!I am so sick of whiny white people talking about "well they call themselves that!" If you want to say the fricken word then say it! tell us how you really feel about black people! By the way lots of black people don't use that word when referring to other blacks(including me) I don't understand the black people who do use the word nor do I understand this burning desire from some whites who try to validate why they should be able to use it

Answer 11

Black people are among the most racist people I know. Consider the Black Basketball Coaches Association. I had a wonderful black girlfriend for several years, but we could not marry because of her racist brother and father. She is still not married and remains broken hearted. I was willing to cope with the family problem, but her father would have disowned her. I am very white. I still love her, but understand. The n word should be used by anyone who wants to use it and it should not be racist for the very reasons you mentioned.