Is the term "white trash" racist?

[alchemize]

Reasons why or why not please. My reason why:

There is a negative term used for African-Americans we are all familiar with. Now you can be from many different countries, many different religions, etc., and still be considered "Black". The same goes for some negative hispanic terms.

I would lump in honkey and cracker into this category as well.

 

[Dissipate]

I don't think white trash is racist. I use that phrase all the time to describe my "fellow" redneck Southern Californians.

White trash is uneducated, unintelligent, poor white people who are often right wing Christians. They are often times drunkards as well.

 

[Todd33]

I think it is, unless I use it, being white and all. When some non-white says it, it just feels dirty and more negative.

 

[Crimson]

Well, according to many of the lefties on this board.. if you aren't in the Northeast or California and you are even remotely religious.. you are white trash.

 

[Stunt]

It depends, if you are saying all whites are white trash then yes it is racist. If you use it as a not so empathetic way to describe white lower class, i think it is somewhat effective in making a description...but i would never use it or endorse its use ever.

It is not anywhere near as bad as other terms out there...imo

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
I don't think white trash is racist. I use that phrase all the time to describe my "fellow" redneck Southern Californians.

White trash is uneducated, unintelligent, poor white people who are often a right wing Christians. They are often times drunkards as well.

Well then its just as derogatory as the "n-word". Doesnt matter if its racist.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: Crimson
Well, according to many of the lefties on this board.. if you aren't in the Northeast or California and you are even remotely religious.. you are white trash.

HuH? Near where I live in So Cal is an entire city of white trash.

 

[maddogchen]

I don't use it. But I see white people using it against white people all the time. So I think its more derogatory than racist.

 

[Spencer278]

Should we use the more political correct term of tralior trash to discribe white trash?

 

[daveshel]

Maybe more classist than racist the way it is commonly used today, but I believe that its origins are racist.

 

[Isla]

Cracker is a legitimate term that is used to describe the cracking of the whip that the Florida cattle ranchers used way back when. Florida Crackers are perfectly fine with being called Crackers. My husband is the grandson of a Florida cattle rancher... and that's what they call themselves.

Interestingly enough, Cracker men tend to dig beloved patriot chicks. So around here, we have what we call Cracker Spics. My kids are Cracker Spics.

We use the term matter of factly. It's not derogative, it just IS.

 

[DoubleL]

Well if the N word is racist then white trash would be to as they mean close to the same thing, The N word means someone that is unclean as I have been told, But you would have to be white to be white trash

 

[cKGunslinger]

I live in Texas - rural Texas - in a trailer. I would bet money there are a few empty beer bottles on my front porch. There is half of a couch in the back yard. We own as least 5 bibles. My 3-year-old runs around the place in just a diaper. I don't find white trash to be offensive.

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: DoubleL
Well if the N word is racist then white trash would be to as they mean close to the same thing, The N word means someone that is unclean as I have been told, But you would have to be white to be white trash

The N word is in reference to all blecks. White trash isn't in reference to all white people, is it?

 

[Isla]

Just an aside...

Our state fair has an old time town set up called "Cracker Country". It's all about the historical Cracker life. When I was in 6th grade, I got to dress up and participate in it. It's still going strong.

So if you hear me say Cracker, it aint nuthin but the normal talk 'round these parts.

 

[RedPickle]

White trash is NOT racist. This term was not used in a way where one person is exerting a sense of power over others. It is more of a description of the actions/thoughts of a person, rather than used in a derogatory way. No one said being white trash was bad. It just another way of descibing something quickly.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: RedPickle
White trash is NOT racist. This term was not used in a way where one person is exerting a sense of power over others. It is more of a description of the actions/thoughts of a person, rather than used in a derogatory way. No one said being white trash was bad. It just another way of descibing something quickly.

The n-word didnt start off racist. It was eventually turned into a derogatory remark by whites, and then it became racist. White trash is NO less derogatory than the n-word. Derogatory is derogatory in my book.

 

[totalcommand]

white trash is a cool phrase, if the person is not offended by it. what pisses me off the most is this PC bull. if the person you're talking about isn't offended by it, who gives a crap. if there's some bystander not part of the convo whos offended by it, tough luck for them. deal with it, you don't know the circumstance.

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: totalcommand
white trash is a cool phrase, if the person is not offended by it. what pisses me off the most is this PC bull. if the person you're talking about isn't offended by it, who gives a crap. if there's some bystander not part of the convo whos offended by it, tough luck for them. deal with it, you don't know the circumstance.

No, in a forum like P&N where debating is the mantra is just makes you come off like a typical freshman relativist.

 

[MoFunk]

Originally posted by: Isla
Cracker is a legitimate term that is used to describe the cracking of the whip that the Florida cattle ranchers used way back when. Florida Crackers are perfectly fine with being called Crackers. My husband is the grandson of a Florida cattle rancher... and that's what they call themselves.

Interestingly enough, Cracker men tend to dig beloved patriot chicks. So around here, we have what we call Cracker Spics. My kids are Cracker Spics.

We use the term matter of factly. It's not derogative, it just IS.

That is funny! LMAO!

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Crimson
Well, according to many of the lefties on this board.. if you aren't in the Northeast or California and you are even remotely religious.. you are white trash.

How is this helpful?

 

[Pers]

well i've always thought of the term "white trash" as describing a particular class of white people...not the entire race, unlike the n-word which targets the entire black population. It's almost like me being from the mideast and having to hear "those terrorists" or stupid blanket statements all the time. Or even stupider statements like endorsing the exploitation of their oil, and then when finished, leave them to sulk in their own poverty (kinda like what western society did to africa)...i think comments like that are more offensive and a bit more retarded, however we all have our own bias.

 

[Todd33]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: Crimson
Well, according to many of the lefties on this board.. if you aren't in the Northeast or California and you are even remotely religious.. you are white trash.

How is this helpful?

He's just ignorant white trash , it's his typical thread barf type reply.

 

[EXman]

YES but only for black people to say it LoL!

 

[MidasKnight]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
I don't think white trash is racist. I use that phrase all the time to describe my "fellow" redneck Southern Californians.

I understand that view. But using say the " N " word is a racist comment but often black people will call each other that with no disapproval from each other. So you or I might say " White Trash " between each other and not be offended but on the whole ( just like the " N " word ) it is a way of being racist IMO.