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White Trash as a Racial Slur
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Post by
MyTie
Concerning White TrashWhite trash or poor white trash is an American English pejorative term referring to poor white people in the United States, suggesting lower social class and degraded living standards. The term suggests outcasts from respectable society living on the fringes of the social order who are seen as dangerous because they may be criminal, unpredictable, and without respect for authority whether it be political, legal, or moral.
The term 'White Trash' is arguably more socially acceptable than most other racial slurs. The words 'Cracker' and 'White Trash' are the predominate slurs used against the Caucasian race.
Here are the questions to respond to:
Is the term White Trash acceptable to use in a pejorative fashion?
Is the term Cracker acceptable to use in a pejorative fashion?
Is the "N" word acceptable to use in a pejorative fashion?
Do you use the words in a pejorative fashion?
From my perspective, none of these are acceptable. However, socially, people don't seem to mind as much when the slurs against the Caucasian race are used, versus the slurs against the Black races.
When I discuss with people why they feel justified in using the terms, they argue that the terms themselves are not racial slurs at all. I've heard arguments that the double standard is justified because historically, white people have enslaved black people. I've also heard arguments that the slurs are acceptable because most people do not take offense.
What are your thoughts?
Post by
Adamsm
That 7 out of 10 times White Trash leaves the mouth of a white person of a higher social status then the intended recipient; all the Middle and Upper class people who bash those who live in low incoming housing or trailer parks.
Is it a double standard? Sure. Is it as bad as the N word? Not in the least.
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
I don't see it much different than Black people calling each other "N*****." A racist term is less likely to be taken as badly when given by someone of the same race. And since Caucasians are the predominate race and you're part of that group, you'll end up hearing it more often.
Post by
MyTie
Is it as bad as the N word? Not in the least.
Why do you feel this way?
Post by
Adamsm
Is it as bad as the N word? Not in the least.
Why do you feel this way?
Because calling some one trash, while it is vicious and cruel, is still not the same as the N word; that one is aimed directly at a specific section of the population, and I've heard people use 'white trash' on anyone from a slum/trailer park whether they were Caucasian or not.
Post by
Deepthought
"White trash" is classist, not racist. Well, I suppose you could argue that it is racist, but only in the way that making any note of a person's skin colour is racist.
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
"White trash" is classist, not racist. Well, I suppose you could argue that it is racist, but only in the way that making any note of a person's skin colour is racist.
As used by a white person to a white person. If a black person were to say "white trash" it would take on the connotation of race. Just like a black person calling a black person "n*****" couldn't be a racist use of the term, but it takes on that connotation if used by a white person.
Post by
240140
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Deepthought
If a black person were to say "white trash" it would take on the connotation of race."White trash" is distinctly aimed at the lower classes. The n-word is not.
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
If a black person were to say "white trash" it would take on the connotation of race."White trash" is distinctly aimed at the lower classes. The n-word is not.
But that's not of concern. The issue is the presence of a racial slur, which as I've said, only comes into play when it is used by someone of a different race, just like the n-word.
Post by
Deepthought
If a black person were to say "white trash" it would take on the connotation of race."White trash" is distinctly aimed at the lower classes. The n-word is not.
But that's not of concern. The issue is the presence of a racial slur, which as I've said, only comes into play when it is used by someone of a different race, just like the n-word.
But it isn't used based on race, it is used based on class. No matter the race of the person using it.
Post by
Murrdurr
I to have heard other ethnicity being called "white trash" but if a black dude called me it, well he better be able to take being called a @#$%^&
Post by
Deepthought
I have nothing against it, but like if a black dude called me white trash or a cracker you better believe I'll be calling him a @#$%^&.
ITT: Murrdurr "just doesn't get" race relations.
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
But it isn't used based on race, it is used based on class. No matter the race of the person using it.
And neither is the n-word often. That doesn't mean that both don't still carry the connotations. Issues like this have never been about how the term is used; they've been about the term itself.
Post by
240140
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Murrdurr
I have nothing against it, but like if a black dude called me white trash or a cracker you better believe I'll be calling him a @#$%^&.
ITT: Murrdurr "just doesn't get" race relations.
lol ok.
So deepthought, you would not get offended if some black dude was arguing with you and called you "stupid $%^&ing white trash"?
Post by
Deepthought
And neither is the n-word often.You are claiming the n-word isn't used based on race? uhhThat doesn't mean that both don't still carry the connotations.Different connotations depending on the context.
ssues like this have never been about how the term is used; they've been about the term itself.Terms are defined entirely by how they are used.
So deepthought, you would not get offended if some black dude was arguing with you and called you "stupid $%^&ing white trash"?Just becuase I say an insult isn't a specific type of insult doesn't mean I think it isn't an insult.
Post by
Hyperspacerebel
And neither is the n-word often.You are claiming the n-word isn't used based on race? uhhThat doesn't mean that both don't still carry the connotations.Different connotations depending on the context.
I hear white people call white people "my n*****s" and black people call black people "n*****" quite often. Those aren't used based on race unless they're completely
blind
. I don't know the exact number, but I've only heard a white person call a black person the n-word maybe 3-4 times in a real world setting...and that's compared to the 1000+ times I've heard a white person call a white person it or a black person call a black person it.
Different connotations depending on the context.
That's exactly my point....so do you actually agree with me?
Terms are defined entirely by how they are used.
And people don't care about the definition. They care about the word itself. Take the whole "this xyz is gay" issue. It's being used (ie it's definition is something completely unrelated to homosexuality) but people still take issue at it because of the connotations.
Post by
Adamsm
I to have heard other ethnicity being called "white trash" but if a black dude called me it, well he better be able to take being called a @#$%^&
If white trash only referred to being white, I would not be offended if a black person called me it. But as it is, I would be offended if someone called me white trash, no matter what race they were.
Mainly cause it's.. being called trash.
Aye; as I said above, I have heard that term used on a wide variety of people, and only a few of them were actually white. The insult is from the term trash, same as it's what the N means that is actually the insult there as well.
Post by
Deepthought
I hear white people call white people "my n*****s"Anecdotal evidence ahoy.
And people don't care about the definition. They care about the word itself.That's exactly my point....so do you actually agree with me?"
Words have different definitions depending on the context, but
people
I don't care about that. Living, breathing language? What's that?
"
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