After last class about the discussion on reclaiming terms
like the N word, I tried to think of words that would offend me to the same
degree. I couldn’t think of any words, terms, or phrases and thought that this
was part of the problem. There is nothing that you can say about my gender,
race, or sexuality that can offend me that I know of. Therefore, I cannot
relate to being called the N word, C word etc.
So I found this video online where it is an interview with
Immortal Technique where he talks about the N-word. In the interview, he gets
put in jail with a white guy and the white guy calls him a N word with the a
ending instead of the er ending. The guy then turns on the white guy and
explains to him about the history of the N word and relates it to the white guy
by using the term redneck. And then it hit me! Finally found a word that can
offend me if not used by the right people!
I grew up on a farm in rural Wisconsin so to be called a
redneck by other farmers and my friends was more of like a compliment. To me,
it met that you worked hard and were not afraid to get dirty. A lot of country
artists us the term redneck. For example, Blake Shelton in the song “Boys
‘Round Here”. But if I think about someone from the city calling me a redneck,
I would take it in a whole different way! I would defiantly take it as a way
for them to bring me down based on my history.
I am not sure how close my thinking is to how the N-word is
used but I think it might be pretty close.
Immortal Technique - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FbwaDGPiY
Blake Shelton - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXAgv665J14
This is a fascinating post, John. I do like how you compare the N word to the term redneck in your personal life; however, I still think that there is a bit of a difference. The histories between the two words (to me) seem greatly different, although, I cannot relate to either, so I cannot speak from experience regarding either term. At least from my personal experience and perspective, I see the N word as being a lot more serious than redneck (this can clearly be represented by the fact that I am not saying the "R" word), but I can also see how you may be offended by it if someone were to use it in a negative context.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the term "cracker" directed to refer to White people? Again, I do not know much about the specific history of this term, but I do hear it being said more often in a casual or negative context by Black people when referencing White people. I have not noticed White people calling each other this term as I know Black people using the N word around each other so freely. What do you think this means? What does the term 'cracker' mean to you in your personal life/experience without doing research?
Hi Tiffany,
DeleteI totally agree with you! I think that the N-word is way more offensive than the term redneck. For me personally, it is just a starting place to scratch the surface. When I thought of the N-word before, I had no way of connecting to how offensive it was or why it was so offensive. By thinking about the term redneck and my background, it gives me a little connection and a place to start the discussion. But in no way am I saying that the term redneck is as offensive or even close to offensive as the N-word.
I have also heard the term “cracker” but do not know much about the history. For me personally, I think it is a funny term and I do not think that it carries as much weight as the N-word because the history is much less unknown. I just looked it up on urban dictionary and it states cracker “originally the white slave driver because he would “crack” the whip, hence the noun cracker.”
And now I don’t think it’s as funny…
So I guess the meaning of a word can change drastically if you now the history.
(I just read your last question on what it means to me with out doing research... I messed that up, sorry about that.)