Izzibeth

They are both completely related to each other. Why one word is taken more offensively if said by a particular group is COMPLETELY related to why some words are more offensive than others. So, no. You are not correct. It has to do with the history of the word, the context, and more. All of which I have addressed.

Here.. I'll lay it out like this:

Some words are taken more offensively if said by a particular group BECAUSE of the history surrounding that word WHICH makes some words more offensive than others in general AND more offensive if said by a particular group.

Depending on the context and history of the word, YES. This is really quite simple, honestly.

The word "nigger" is more offensive if said by white people because the word "nigger" is meant to denote inferiority and was established by white people towards black people ONLY during a time when white people exercised complete control over the race through violence and coercion (see, "Niger"... I guess people couldn't read 'good' so said "nigger" instead of "niger"). The word "nigger" has no positivity at all and especially not when said by a white person to a black person. The word "nigger" means "slave" and "worthless" and "less than white".

Black people tried and failed to adopt the word "nigger" to make it their own and less offensive. While black people use this word in some situations, you don't hear black professionals calling each other it because the word is offensive. The word "nigga" or "nigger" is still associated with low class and negative connotations. When people hear the word come out of a black person's mouth they assume that the person is of low social stature or uneducated or "comes from the ghetto" or whatever. It is not a positive word.

The word "cracker" is offensive if said by a black person to a white person because the word has become a generalization of white people. However, looking at the history tells you something quite different than the word "nigger". "Cracker" came from the sound the whip made when black people were being whipped by white people. (e.g. "Cracka's a'comin'"). Later, white people began to wear the word as a badge of pride, calling themselves "cracker".. they were the ones with the whips, afterall. Why not be proud of it? White people (mostly in the south) started calling themselves "cracker" and soon the word spread and began to be used by blacks and whites to refer to southern whites. Then the word spread more and became used to describe whites in general. Whites most likely stopped referring to themselves as "cracker" because whipping slaves stopped being something to be proud of and they did not want to be associated with it. "Cracker" was not established as a way of denoting inferiority on the white race by the blacks. It was not a way of saying "less than black". It was ... an onomatopoeia nick-name.

The word "honky" came from the "honky-tonk" taverns that white people used to go to all the time back in the day (that black people were most likely not allowed into).

Neither side should be calling the other side any of these names. I don't. I'm mixed and I wouldn't call my white family "honkys" or "crackers" and I wouldn't call my black family "niggers". However, when I hear the word "nigger" come out of a white person's mouth I [b]cringe[/c] a lot more than if I hear the word "cracker" or "honky" come out of a black person's mouth (which is really not that often, by the way). I get disappointed when I hear the word "nigger" come out of a black person's mouth and I really feel nothing at all when I hear "cracker" or "honky" come out of a white person's mouth. The words are counter productive and they make you look shallow and kind of stupid, in my opinion.

But my opinion aside.... what I have just said is WHY some words are more offensive when said by one group than said by another group. If I choose to call myself an "oreo" or a "zebra" or a "halfrican", who are you to tell me I can't? You can't relate to me at all. If I say it to another mixed person and they get offended then that is their decision and maybe I will get a punch in the face. If I stand up in front of a crowd of mixed people and say it in a comedy routine and they laugh then I have just connected with a group of people similar to me, they think I'm funny, they relate and they have decided it's okay. If a white person does it then it could go either way... but you take that risk. Just like Lisa Lampanelli takes a risk when she stands up in front of a crowd and starts talking about "retards". She's not mentally or physically handicapped so it's not up to her to say whether or not what she is saying is offensive. People think she's funny. So great! But if handicapped people didn't think she was funny and started boycotting her shows... it would be pretty fcking ridiculous for her to stand up and say "Well, why is it only offensive if a non-handicapped person calls them "retards" or "r-tards" or "gimps"! That's not fair!" ESPECIALLY with the history of how handicapped people have been treated and are still treated in this country.

Anyway.... TLDR.

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