How offensive is this?
 

Background. I live in Oregon. The word I am asking about really doesn't get used here. As such, my social barometer simply doesn't register. I need more data points.

My son has a "rapper name." It is not serious, but satirical. We live in a upper income suburb. We are white. His rapper name is "Ritz Cracka."

I find this to be very funny. I want to buy him his name with large gold letters and chain for his birthday. He would think it hilarious. Certainly not something to wear regularly.

So Mrs. LWJ thinks this is offensive. And it is. But, if you are white and call yourself "Cracka" is this permissible? I think so. Especially in a vein of satire.

Comments and flames on.

Thanks!

Not offensive. Everyone needs to re-set, and get their sense of humor back.

I think it's hilarious as well. I don't see anything offensive about it. As a matter of fact, I think Cracker was a term used to describe the original, primarily white settlers to FL, and I think in some instances "Florida Cracker" is considered a good thing (tough folks that flourished in a harsh environment).

I was once called a cracker by someone of another race. I think it was supposed to be inflammatory, but the insult was lost on me.

I don't see any problem with it, but then I'm not thin skinned or easily offended.

Did he give himself the name?

You can't give yourself a nickname, call sign or pajamas, it just isn't done.

Ummm, fellas, the term "Cracker" doesn't refer to your skin color being similar to a saltine, it's roots are from the sound of the "Master's" whip.

It's a bit of a laugh, and it's to give him a giggle with his friends.

I think white people calling each other "Cracker" is as offensive as black people calling each other "The N Word". Race doesn't give you privilege to use derogatory language.

My dog has a rapper name.

DJ Rug Pissa

That name is already taken, with copyright...you'll be hearing from my lawyer, Aesop Rock the Brief.

He good.

The term has nothing to do with slavery. It has to do with Florida cowboys and the sound their whips made. Derogative term for a poor white person.

Well, it has several associations over the years. The one you refer to originates long before the period of slavery in the US and has nothing to do with it. It goes back to the middle ages, in England. It has also referred to someone that ran his mouth a little too much.

In this context, I'm not offended.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_(term)

A more in-depth look:

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/07/01/197644761/word-watch-on-crackers

That sounds like a plausible theory, but I suspect it's not the case. Etymology for terms, even slang, that have been around a long time rarely seem obvious to us now.

Cracker usually is used to describe poor whites, I don't think poor whites had a lot of slaves.

Wikipedia does include the theory that you suggested.

Per wikipedia

I like "Ritz Cracka" Buuuut someone may try and distort this situation into something else.

Is your son in school or college? I would bet there would be a teacher or lecturer who would find offence even if non was intended.
You can't even joke about race without being called out on it. Pro comedians can get away with it but no one else can.

This whole racist thing is so sensitive right now. :(

Very interesting article. I'd never heard of swamp cabbage or corn pone.

This seems to point at the whole slave thing as being bogus.

Valid point. Many folks may not find it offensive, but you'd have to pick and choose where you advertised.

Then why can you fully spell out the "C" word but you can't say the "N" word without being crucified?
Reverse discrimination sucks and unfortunately one group is notorious for pulling out "the race card"

Okie was a derogatory term. Now it is used for businesses and advertisements.

I have no problem with the OP messing with his kid.

The kids in "Lake Ego" high school might find it funny. Wonder what the kids attending Jefferson in NE Portland would think?

Seriously? A "rapper" that doesn't offend someone? Isn't that the whole basis of the rap genre?

I think the name is great!

This...times a thousand.

Summary: divided as to whether it is offensive or funny. Answer: A little of both, I guess.

Maybe I don't need to bring that sort of heat to my son.

Thank you all!

And yes, my son and his buddy came up with the name.

In continuing with the processed flour theme, I have adopted "DJ Wonderbread" as my rapper name.

Is that offensive?

Get the chain. 20 years from he'll likely still have it and give everybody a good chuckle.

When did we all get so easily offended? Seems like a lot of people look for a reason to be offended these days. It must be very tiring.

An acquaintance of mine is like this. I usually find the offending bit funny, they don't. Pretty sure I am a lot happier.

Remember guinea? wop? guido? I do and I never cared because I always knew who and what I am.

I am not a fan of Rap music in general or the image it presents. I would suggest you attempt to reset your kids musical interest and perhaps what he perceives as cool unless he picked the name in jest. That being said I think the name is hilarious. I'm picturing your kid with his Ritz Craka name tag, his fake fur pushing his scooter around yo hood.

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People have a unique ability to guess about word origins. If it SOUNDS like, then it must be.

Cracker is one of those words, A whip cracks so it must be that.

I was in Africa recently and a truck was called a bukkie
I thought is must be like a bicycle saddle evolving for a horse, perhaps a bukkie evolving for a buck board wagon.

WRONG. It was derived from some entirely different dutch term, just as cracker was derived from something else

We have a band that performs up here called soul cracker.
They play motown music

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The remainder of the second clip is worth watching the entire series over. Fall off the chair hilarious.

Needs a backup band —Ritz Cracka and the Spray Can Jeezus---that might be offensive to some.

it's fine for Lake Oswego, even NE PDX

but a no go in Roseburg

OK, so some history on the term "cracker".

Quite possibly from the Florida cowboys and the cracking sound of their whips as they were herding mostly wild cows from S. Florida to the North and rail heads and points beyond. We've got "cracker cows" and "cracker horses" as well here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Cracker_Horse

Ok. Who is offended? White people? If so, I'm getting it as I don't care.

Black people? I'm NOT getting it, as that seems wrong.

I suspect as it is derogatory towards white people, it is white people who would be offended.

Am I correct?

Exactly.
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There's nothing wrong with rap music. I don't enjoy most of it, but I do like some of it. Sure, there are elements within the rap that seem to promote or stand for what most folks would consider bad values, morals, etc... I'm sure you can find similar stuff in several genre of music. A good kid can listen to rap and still be a good kid. A bad kid could listen to just about anything and still be a bad kid.

I get what you're saying, but unless taken to an extreme (the kid trying to be a gangsta) then there's nothing wrong with it. And with the wrong teen, trying to steer them a different direction could have the effect of pushing them deeper in to what you're trying to steer them away from.

I suspect that you've painted a picture in your head without much to go on, and that picture may be very, VERY far from reality.

And while I don't think you're a bad person or anything like that, the way your post comes across is not terribly flattering to you.

I don't get it either. My guess is that the only folks that would be offended are the people described by a couple of other posters, people that go looking for ways to be offended. No one else should be offended.

I'm not so much offended, I just think we don't need derogatory slang to become part of modern dialogue.

Fag, Retard, Gimp, Beaner, etc have negative connotations. My Son is bi racial. I don't like it when he and his friends call each other "The N Word". I've explained to him that it just degrades their conversation. We've reached a point where use of the word justifies a violent reaction in the eyes of society. That is no good

Not very offensive....
Also:
Not very funny.

I would let it percolate quietly for a while, see if it still seems relevant in a few weeks. Then decide.

No intelligent opinion to offer. But this post reminded me of this movie.

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Not offensive to me at all, think it's quite funny

I did however grow up in the Bahamas where the N word was used as frequently as the word 'dude' and not in a racist manner

This explains it best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDF4RYdf1L4&t=2s

Fixed it for you.

There's not much good with the majority of rap music. I don't enjoy most of it, but I do like some of it. Sure, there are some elements within the rap that are OK but most of it promotes or stands for what most folks would consider bad values, morals, promiscuity, Illegal activities, violence toward women and police and violence in general. I'm sure you can find similar stuff in several genre of music. A good kid can listen to rap and still be a good kid. A bad kid could listen to just about anything and still be a bad kid.

I get what you're saying, but the kid trying to be a wanna be gangsta should be taught that, that type of behavior is wrong, derogatory and really shouldn’t be promoted, and there is plenty wrong with most of it. And with the wrong teen, trying to steer them a different direction could have the effect of pushing them deeper in to what you're trying to steer them away from.

I suspect that you've painted a picture in your head of who I am without much to go on and became offended, and that picture is very, VERY far from reality. After all I did not grow up in an upper middle class white privileged family or neighborhood with a father willing to make excuses for me and willing to justify my behavior.

And while I don't think you're a bad person or anything like that, the way your post comes across is not terribly flattering to you.