Cracker Barrel Is Under Fire for Its "Racist" Name

[rangerrebew]

Cracker Barrel Is Under Fire for Its "Racist" Name
Story by Gina Vaynshteyn • 3h ago
 
The comfort food-style restaurant chain Cracker Barrel, known for its overwhelming amount of ornamental knick-knacks and vintage signs plastered on the walls, is in some social media trouble today. Folks on the internet are claiming Cracker Barrel is racist.

What’s the meaning behind Cracker Barrel?
According to Southern Living, “cracker-barrel” was coined in 1916 because of barrels containing soda crackers — a popular item for sale at country stores. Customers at said country stores would hang around the barrels as a kind of ritual (kind of like the trope of employees gossiping near the water cooler). The first Cracker Barrel location opened in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn., and it derived its name from the cracker-barrel community experience back in the day.
 
According to Dictionary.com, “cracker-barrel” means “of or suggesting the simple rustic informality and directness thought to be characteristic of life in and around the country store.”

But some Twitter users have also pointed out that the term "cracker" might have another, more racist connotation. According to NPR, the term "cracker" was used in the mid-18th century to refer to poor white people in states like Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cracker-barrel-is-under-fire-for-its-racist-name/ar-AA19EpPV?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=ccf8e6a1435a4bf7b6615f8018ad9d83&ei=33

[rangerrebew]

 

[Cyber Liberty]

It was only a matter of time....

[Bigun]

I hope Cracker Barrel tells the Nazis to go perform an impossible act on themselves.

[Cyber Liberty]

I hope Cracker Barrel tells the Nazis to go perform an impossible act on themselves.

I'd be surprised of they have the guts to defend the name.  They already changed the logo to appease the racists.

[Wingnut]

Po' Folks be next.  It is demeaning to southern black folks.

[mountaineer]

What are we supposed to call those thin, crispy baked items, then?

[MeshugeMikey]

What are we supposed to call those thin, crispy baked items, then?

by whatever their chosen Pronoun may  happen to be

[Kamaji]

Actually, as a term for a group of people, at least in Florida, “cracker” referred to the white field-bosses who would “crack” the whip over the field workers.  Hence the appellation “cracker”.

Twitter, of course, has once again gotten it wrong.

[MeshugeMikey]

Actually, as a term for a group of people, at least in Florida, “cracker” referred to the white field-bosses who would “crack” the whip over the field workers.  Hence the appellation “cracker”.

Twitter, of course, has once again gotten it wrong.

twiiter is POST Literate....that is Post ILLITERATE......in a couple of ways

[Smokin Joe]

Actually, as a term for a group of people, at least in Florida, “cracker” referred to the white field-bosses who would “crack” the whip over the field workers.  Hence the appellation “cracker”.

Twitter, of course, has once again gotten it wrong.

In the Maryland of my youth, "cracker" was a term for "poor white trash".

Just as among the Black community ni**er was a 'low' (morally) black person of ill repute. 
It was people of predominantly white areas (often urban) who used the latter term to pejoratively describe all Blacks, who neither saw nor understood the difference between "good colored folks" and the less desirable elements in that community.
Now, even the term "colored people" is seen as racist, while "People of Color" is some sort of rallying cry. 

[roamer_1]

In the Maryland of my youth, "cracker" was a term for "poor white trash".

Just as among the Black community ni**er was a 'low' (morally) black person of ill repute. 
It was people of predominantly white areas (often urban) who used the latter term to pejoratively describe all Blacks, who neither saw nor understood the difference between "good colored folks" and the less desirable elements in that community.
Now, even the term "colored people" is seen as racist, while "People of Color" is some sort of rallying cry. 

Yep. A cracker, in the common redneck parlance, would be 'trailer trash' today...

When the black folks started using cracker as a diminutive against all white folks, I think the connotation blurred.

[verga]

Love the food and wandering through the "store" to see the cool Chatch keys

[Kamaji]

I hope they stand firm with their name.

[verga]

I hope they stand firm with their name.

[DefiantMassRINO]

More nonsense.

[catfish1957]

Po' Folks be next.  It is demeaning to southern black folks.

Does that chain even exist anymore?  We had one here in the '80's, but haven't seen one since it closed.

[Wingnut]

Does that chain even exist anymore?  We had one here in the '80's, but haven't seen one since it closed.

We have two near us.  One over in Bay County.  But they may be like what happened to Blockbuster at the end.  an independent Franchise using the name with no Corp to support it?

[verga]

Does that chain even exist anymore?  We had one here in the '80's, but haven't seen one since it closed.

They are popular here in the south.

[Cyber Liberty]

They are popular here in the south.

Their website lists only Florida locations.  They used to have on in Mesa, AZ that I liked quite a bit.

[Smokin Joe]

I have never been to one, but like the extra sharp cheddar...

[goatprairie]

Yep. A cracker, in the common redneck parlance, would be 'trailer trash' today...

When the black folks started using cracker as a diminutive against all white folks, I think the connotation blurred.

There is The National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People or NAACP the most well-known and respected black civil rights advocacy org. in America.
But if you call a black person a colored person, you are a racist I can't figure it out.

[Wingnut]

Can you margin if Sambo's was still around?  Poor little Black Sambo.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

Name Origin: The term “Cracker-Barrel” was first used in 1916 and was inspired by the barrels of crackers that sat on the front porch of the old-time general stores.  The only derogatory way I've heard it used is against white people.

[verga]

Their website lists only Florida locations.  They used to have on in Mesa, AZ that I liked quite a bit.

There are at least 3 within 20 miles of where I live here in Virginia