The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts. As it turns out, in the area in which rachel jeantel was raised, the word cracker isnt a racial slur at all, but rather, a proud nod to the regions history, and ones own ancestry. The term cracker was and is used most frequently in the southern u. Cracker the white man and the whip, the origin of why white people are called crackers. The latter explanation makes sense, because in piney. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white. Mencken wrote, one school holds that many of the early crackers were teamsters and. The term cracker was in use during the elizabethan era to describe braggarts. Dec 31, 2006 the term cracker was and is used most frequently in the southern u. I should explain to your lordship what is meant by crackers. Meaning instrument for crushing or cracking is from 1630s.
The publishers of the georgia crackers song folio no. Cracker was once a derogatory term for a poor white southerner, but it was also used to denote someone quick and efficient at any task. The cracker term was soon associated with the descendants of these early settlers, especially the cowboys and farmers of georgia and florida. What is the origin of cracker as an ethnic slur for. The original root of this is the middle english word crack, meaning entertaining conversation as one may be said to crack a joke. And, by the 1800s, the name cracker wasnt used to describe only impoverished settlers. Jul 18, 2019 cracker barrel has dotted the sides of u. Crackers meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Redneck is a derogatory term chiefly but not exclusively applied to white americans perceived to be crass and unsophisticated, closely associated with rural whites of the southern united states. When oglethorpe founded the colony of georgia, alcohol was prohibited. Usage of the term cracker generally differs from hick and hillbilly because crackers reject or resist assimilation into the dominant culture, while hicks and. It was used to refer to poor whites, particularly those inhabiting the frontier regions of maryland, virginia and georgia.
The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four centuries, said dana ste. The atlanta black crackers were founded as the atlanta cubs as a semiprofessional team of black college students. Georgia used as a nickname meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples. Georgia has also been known as the buzzard state from laws georgia introduced to protect buzzards. They got their start in music when they saved up some money from a good tobacco crop and got themselves a mail order guitar. Lured to florida by cheap and plentiful land, these pioneers arrived with few provisions and needed to erect shelter quickly and cheaply.
The origin of the term as epithet is a matter of dispute. The english meaning of cracker as a braggart appears by elizabethan times, as, for example, in shakespeares king john 1595. The epithet cracker has been applied in a derogatory way, like redneck, to rural, nonelite white southerners, more specifically to those of south georgia and north florida. The term cracker cracka is used as an ethnic or racial slur for americans of european descent, but more specifically for americans of. The term cracker is derived from the gaelic craic, meaning entertaining conversation or boasting, with the latter sense still attested in the idiom not all its cracked up to be.
Georgiacracker dictionary definition georgiacracker defined. People of color for example african indentures and slaves and men of property repeated what they heard from white male elites and wrongly white historians racialized it. The crack sound from their bull whips led to the term geogia crackers. Crack definition is to make a very sharp explosive sound.
The name georgia is a girls name of english origin meaning farmer georgia is so rich, lush and luscious, its almost irresistible. Britannica notes that this usage of the term dates back to the american revolution, and is derived from the cracked corn which formed their staple food. The first settlers in what is now the state of georgia came in waggons, and used long whips that they cracked over the heads of the animals dragging the waggons. Jul 01, 20 but it turns out cracker s roots go back even further than the 17th century. Since the 1870s, a nickname for georgia is the cracker state.
Cracker the white man with the whip chancellorfiles. Africanamericans, however, shifted the meaning from positive to one of derision. The meaning of the word has changed a lot over the last four. Information and translations of florida cracker in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Cracker, sometimes white cracker or cracka, is a racial epithet for white people, used especially for poor rural whites in the southern united states. All the way back to the age of shakespeare, at least. The 1911 edition of the encyclopedia britannica, notes that cracker is a term of contempt for the poor or mean whites, particularly of georgia and florida. Cracker, the old standby of anglo insults was first noted in the mid 18th century, making it older than the united states itself. Its usage is similar in meaning to cracker especially regarding texas, georgia, and florida, hillbilly especially regarding appalachia and the ozarks, and white trash but without the last terms. What is the origin of the term cracker as it refers to.
Another theory is that the name originated from the citys previous team, the firecrackers. Today, cracker is often used as a derogatory term for a white person for obvious reasons. There are several other compounds besidescorn cracker associated with the word cracker. 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.
At the same time, curiously, many plead ignorance when asked about the meaning of that statement. But it turns out crackers roots go back even further than the 17th century. Cracker definition of cracker by the free dictionary. In short, i think cracker is the anglicised form of creachadoir. A letter written to the earl of dartmouth might help us to understand its original meaning. Another version of the origin of cracker comes from the spanish term cuaquero, which means quaker. What is the origin of the term georgia cracker answers. An original colonizer of the state of the american state of georgia, or one of their descendants. The original root of this is the middle english word crack meaning entertaining. Cracker style in its simplest form, a cracker house is a wooden shelter built by the early florida and georgia settlers.
Its usage is similar in meaning to cracker especially regarding texas, georgia, and florida, hillbilly especially regarding appalachia and the ozarks, and white trash but without the last terms suggestions of immorality. According to some, cracker is short for corn cracker, which was a name fora southern highlander in the nineteenth century allen, 50. Georgia cracker refers to the original american pioneer settlers of the province of georgia later, the state of georgia, and their descendants. Coal cracker is from 1853 of persons, 1857 of machinery that breaks up mined coal. Cracker state definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Folk etymology claims the term originated either from their cracking, or pounding, of corn rather than taking it to mill, or from their use of whips to drive cattle. Cracker conveys history of bigotry that still resonates. Georgiacracker dictionary definition georgiacracker. Cracker barrel old country stores serve, or offer to serve, persons who are interstate travelers.
It will consist of 5 different skill games such as crosswords. Known to be very selfsufficient by growing or hunting their own food and building their own homes. This is the word i believe is the actual origin of cracker. Coastal georgia was settled largely by descendants of scottish and irish extraction, and the term cracker was used to describe a braggart or a wise cracker. Jan 16, 2007 the area of southeast georgia, and north centralflorida are most closely associated with word. In on the origin of species, charles darwin quotes a professor wyman as. Many georgians were proud to call themselves georgia crackers who took. They began to play independently in 1919 and changed their name to the black crackers because fans had already begun to call them by that name. With a single phrase, rachel jeantel, that friend of trayvon martins, may have lit a fuse in the trial of his accused killer.
A native to the state of georgia whose family has lived out in more rural parts of the state for many generations and continues to do so. Cracker state definition and meaning collins english. It implies a person who lives in the utmost worst conditions and a person who no one really cares about. Whatever the origin, many georgians hated the nickname. It is documented in william shakespeares king john act ii. This is where the expression crack a joke originated.
They were known as the group that put hawkinsville, georgia on the map. Cracker meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. The cracker state definition and meaning collins english. The term cracker was in use during elizabethan times to describe braggarts who liked to boast. Cracker barrel old country stores affect commerce within the meaning of 42 u. A thin crisp wafer or biscuit, usually made of unsweetened dough.
The early scotsirish settlers were mostly presbyterian, baptist and methodist. Particularly are they uncertain about that term cracker. Georgia has also been known as the buzzard state from. But this theory doesnt answer the question of how the word got applied almost exclusively to folks in rural areas of south georgia and florida.
Where does the term cracker come from, and how disparaging. Cracker, sometimes white cracker, is a slur used against white people, used especially against poor rural whites in the southern united states. It is ulster gaelic and scots gaelic creachadair word meaning, raider and freebooter, but also associated with the free range cattle drovers in ulster. Georgias now a rising star among the feminizations of george, helped by associations with the southern state named for british king geogre ii and painter georgia okeeffe, with the ray charles song georgia on my mind or maybe sweet georgia brown playing.
One theory is that the team was named after local farmers who cracked whips over oxen and horses. Cracker barrel in georgia ga cracker barrel locations. The term cracker originated in england, it was used to describe a person was a braggart or who told jokes. All cracker barrel locations in your state georgia ga. My grandmother from georgia openly refers to herself and other white southerners as crackers, and sometimes adds a state as in georgia cracker or florida cracker. Coastal georgia was settled largely by descendants of scottish and irish extraction, and the term cracker was used to describe a braggart or a wisecracker. She says it means simple folks who can only afford to eat crackers. The atlanta black crackers originally known as the atlanta cubs and later briefly the indianapolis abcs were a professional negro league baseball team which played during the earlytomid20th century. How did the slang term cracker come about to mean white people. Crackers definition of crackers by the free dictionary. It is sometimes used in a neutral context in reference to a native of florida or georgia see florida cracker and georgia cracker. Georgia cattlemen drove their livestock into florida to market.
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