Bill Clinton's cracker comment explained by a Floridian

@spalladino (17891)
United States
September 30, 2008 1:40pm CST
Since the majority of you folks don't live in Florida, you can't know what the term "Cracker" means down here. Unfortunately, from the responses to the discussion below about Clinton's remark, many in this country have probably reacted in the same negative way. But here in Florida, with all those electoral votes at stake, we thought it was right neighborly of Bill to want to come on down and see us and no one here was insulted in the least. In Florida, the term "cracker" has a very long history behind it and most born-n-bred Floridians are proud of their cracker heritage. Florida Crackers were the original colonial era American pioneer settlers of the State of Florida and the word originally meant someone who bragged. In modern Florida a cracker is not a Yankee or a Snow Bird. A cracker has been here all of his/her life, or for generations, and is proud to be descended from roughnecks who survived here long before air conditioning, mosquito repellent, and screen porches. I will never be a cracker...but my grandchildren will be.
4 people like this
2 responses
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
30 Sep 08
Interesting, I didn't know that. I learn something new every day here it seems. It's also interesting how a word can have two meanings, positive and negative;)
2 people like this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
30 Sep 08
I won't dispute your definition, since there is truth to it and it dates back even further than colonial times. However, I have NEVER in my life heard it used as anything other than a slang term to refer to white people. I've lived in Florida for 18 years. I went to middle school and highschool here. I've lived in Orlando, Tampa, and Miami. I have only heard that word used in a derogatory manner referring to white people. I seriously doubt that Bill Clinton was using it in any historical context. I think he was trying to be funny and the joke fell flat.
1 person likes this