The American Heritage Dictionary defines "cracker" as "a disparaging term for a poor white person of the rural, especially southeast United States." In the 1960s, when many white Southerners took a stand against civil rights for minorities, the label became closely associated with white bigotry. Today, the term is more commonly used as a general insult for a "white person." But just how offensive is this label?

Some people believe that calling a white person a "cracker" is the equivalent of calling a black person a "nigger." They insist that both labels are racist slurs and therefore deplorable. Others believe that "cracker" is a much less offensive term. They argue that minorities, such as blacks, who have been historically oppressed, have earned the right to vent their frustrations, whereas the white majority has not. Meanwhile, some whites actually embrace the label "cracker" and feel it reflects their Southern rural roots.

So, how did the word "cracker" come to be connected with Caucasians in the first place? The origins of the label are uncertain, yet there is little reason to believe it has anything to do with the salty treat parrots call for by name. A common, though not well substantiated theory is that "cracker" comes from the sound of the whip used to drive cattle, or much more disturbingly, to punish a slave.

A.C. Kemp of slangcity.com suggests a more academically supported theory that "cracker" derives from the Southern practice of "cracking corn" to make moonshine whiskey. Kemp also points out that Shakespeare used the term "cracker" to describe an arrogant, boastful person--a description that may have been applied to the rugged pioneers of the Deep South. In addition, Ste. Claire, organizer of the exhibit entitled "Cracker Culture in Florida History," suggests that the label may be related to the architectural style known as "Florida Cracker."