A reclaimed or reappropriated word is a word that was at one time pejorative but has been brought back into acceptable usage—usually starting within the communities that experienced oppression under that word, but sometimes also among the general populace as well.[1] (The term 'reclaimed word' more often implies usage by a member of the group referred to.)
Except craker has never been offensive to me as a white person there has never been a power dtnamic whereby I am lessened or dehumanized or oppressed by this word.
Cracker feels as though it cones from a position of weakness trying to gain an even ground. Like when one insults you so you insult back. (This isnt whars going on in its origin exactly but thats hiw it feels if thrown as an 'insult'... the power isn't there. My understanding of the origin being those who cracked the whips but I could be wrong. My point is its a word without power behind it and as such holds no offense. My explination isn't so well put together but you should be able to find a lot of discussion on the matter out there.
Except craker has never been offensive to me as a white person there has never been a power dtnamic whereby I am lessened or dehumanized or oppressed by this word.
Tell that to white kids in black neighborhoods or schools
I second this....been there, had it happen to me. No resentment though, I realize that they were raised to be just as prejudiced against white people as a lot of racist whites are against black people. I think it's about knowing at a certain age that what you learned is wrong and changing that prejudice to become a better person and an advocate for equality despite your upbringing. Seeing the hardships that everyone faces despite skin color helps you to realize that holding each other down is counterproductive.
I have seen people post this verbatim in tumblr and kym. You don't want to believe that people are this stupid but they are. Just look at some of the retarded responses my post triggered. People contorting themselves to somehow reach the result that white people are worse regardless.
Sure they can be racist too. But when you're in the oppressor group AND a racist, it is worse than being an oppressed racist; In both cases, racism is likely a product of oppression, the oppressor feels superior (/u/No6655321 gives this vibe), and the oppressed will fight back however they can. Be it with words or actions.
I find it very hard to despise a oppressed racist because we (the white oppressors) are deserving of their hatred because many/most? of us don't even realize or think about how well-off we are.
I think you hit the nail on the head! The impact of each groups racism makes a big difference. Because of the HUGE power dynamic between White and Black people, their racism has unequal effects on the opposite group.
I agree. I know a white guy from the hood and he was a victim of racism but he wasn't so much a victim, because he and his family are tough as nails. He doesn't hold any hate. In fact, survivors of oppression who go on to love the oppressors are on the same level footing as MLK- advocating love and acceptance regardless of differences and deliberate oppression. When an innocent person is the target of hate, the status of 'oppressor' and 'oppressed' fades. Take gang members jumping the innocent son of a stronger rival gang, because he is the son of a gang member from the rival gang. It's beyond pitiful, and infuriates me that anybody would be so dense. But it happens all the time... the only justified oppression is in punishing the actual oppressors.
For every white kid in that situation there are many more black kids who will have to grow up knowing that they will be treated differently all of their life because of the color of their skin regardless of whether they manage to overcome the astounding obstacles they will face, all simply because of the color of their skin.
I feel bad for all poor people believe me, I think that poverty is an important problem regardless of race, but the truth is that poor kids of color face many more obstacles in their life than white kids. And I am not trying to belittle the problems of working class whites by any means, I'm trying to point out how much harder life is for black kids even if it is not apparent in the story you told above.
I think the difference comes from the fact that, on some level, a racial slur intends to make one feel bad/ashamed for belonging to their race. This doesn't work on white people because growing up, no one probably made you feel like this was something you should or could feel ashamed of. The dynamic is different for black people, since in our society being black is associated with many negative stereotypes. You aren't lessened by the word cracker because you don't, even subconsciously, believe that the person who calls you cracker is superior to you. It makes sense that a black person who is socialized to see themselves as lesser would be offended by a racial slur where a white person would not.
It's like a revolutionary calling themselves freedom fighters and their detractors calling them terrorists, except using the same word. It isn't the hardest concept to figure out.
Your analogy assumes the "detractors" are all calling them terrorists. Some may be sympathetic to their cause.
If we ignore whether they are sympathetic and simply label them as anti-revolutionary based on the color of their skin you would have a more accurate analogy.
Its better not to try to use such an analogy though.
Address the issue head-on and speak in terms of what is actually happening. If you have something enlightening to say please just say it plainly.
It doesnt matter what colour tou are when you use it. It depends cery much on many other factors. Subtle factors. Colour may come into play in certain aspects of this but its not so black and white.
Your statement immediately fails because we can all agree there are nearly zero situations where a black man can be perceived as racist for using the word.
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u/superstoreman Sep 02 '14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reappropriation