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. However, in florida, the word cracker is anything but. A florida cracker is a true southerner, not a transplant from a northern state. Georgia cattlemen drove their livestock into florida to market. Florida cracker becomes hot at upscale developments. The great florida cattle drive 2016 reenactment of historical florida cattle drives. Florida cracker becomes hot at upscale developments wsj. Its possible he just assumed the derogatory meaning, but youd have to ask him why. Code switch where does the slur cracker come from, anyway. It is a word for bigot, and is very derogatory in that sense. What is the origin of the term georgia cracker answers. Heres the history behind the florida cracker cowboys of our state associated with the word.
Riches podcast documentaries are short form narrative documentaries that. Claire, a florida historian and anthropologist who studies, er, crackers. To a florida native, being called a cracker is a compliment. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia see florida cracker and georgia cracker. Florida crackers were colonialera british and american pioneer settlers and their descendants. Described locally as a cracker house, the woodframe building is a museum of life in florida before air conditioning. Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging is it.
Florida crackers are native born floridians who speak a unique language. In these days of shabby chic home decor and grunge fashion, cracker houses are making a comeback in the deep south. Today, cracker is often used as a derogatory term for a white person for obvious reasons. Cracker term cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a term for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. Cracker house at a history of central florida podcast.
The original root of this is the middle english word crack, meaning entertaining conversation as one may be said to crack a joke. Receive home design inspiration, building tips and special offers. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four centuries, said dana ste. Episode 15 of a history of central florida podcasts. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a sometimes pejorative expression for white people, especially poor rural whites in the southern united states. A cracker is also a derogatory term for a white person so a cracker vote can also mean the white vote, or the white. In the meantime, enjoy them virtually from the comfort of your home. It has been taken as an offensive and derogatory term to people of caucasian or european descent and is largely considered a slur in modern usage. For example, if a black man calls a white man cracker, it is not usually considered a compliment. This video will explain why im proud to be a cracker. A list of lyrics, artists and songs that contain the term florida cracker from the lyrics.
Not at all like what most people nowadays picture as a floridian. Cracker comes from a celtic word meaning braggart or loudmouth. Thus, cracker vote refers to support from such longterm floridians. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a racial slur used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. If a yankee calls a country boy from north florida a cracker, it might not be well received. Local folklore has it that the term cracker alludes to the sounds of a whip cracking over the wild cattle that early floridians hunted. Not exactly slang, but south florida is sometimes referred to as the 6th borough due to all the ny. Known to be very selfsufficient by growing or hunting their own food and building their own homes. A real cracker house most likely would have been a small log cabin. The term is, indeed, a somewhat derogatory term for white people.
The word seems most acceptable in georgia and florida, especially in the phrases georgia cracker and florida cracker. A history of the florida cracker cowboys tampa magazine. Cracker means something entirely different in florida. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. It was in desoto county, florida that remington met and painted the portrait of bone mizell, one of the most colorful characters in florida cracker history.
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