I grew up in a really rural area of Alabama. My papaw was a minister of a small church and all of my family were sharecroppers. We all lived on the land and took care of Mr. D's animals and chicken houses in exchange for rent etc.
Every summer a man we knew as N* John came to help us with harvesting. That's how he introduced himself, everyone called him that, that's what is on his tombstone even. I had no clue until I was much older about what that word meant. I seriously just thought it was his name! He was a really old guy, prolly older than my papaw. He brought his grandsons with him for us to play with and we looked forward to seeing them every year. Living in Podunk has it's draw backs, not many neighbors. But that was the only time it ever crossed my lips. Everyone else was Mr. Seth or Miss Maisy. Or if we happened to be holding a revival, Bro. Seth or Sister Maisy.
Thought I'd clarify something real quick. I was once asked how could I not know? We had no tv until 1984, we listened to gospel radio or records, went to Church and hung out with family. When I say rural, I mean no neighbors for 6 miles and cows are the only thing you saw. School was never a big deal. We went to school in little buildings and my graduating class had 33 people lol
So, it's not always where you grew up. Not everyone has to tack on the south as a reason for ever saying it. I think it's exposure to different cultures and different locals that either makes you immune to saying it or where you just don't hear it. I cringe when I hear anyone, black or white say it. It's just a crude word.
We had our first run in with any kind of discrimination based on skin color the other week and I found myself kinda stumped as to how to handle this one. We are not white but my youngest son is very pale with light eyes and a new neighbor called him a cracker. I told him what I thought it was and he said he didn't care, that crackers tasted good lol He's eight and I guess it's nice that we've lived in such a huge multicultural circle of friends and this is the first time anything like that had happened. Not that I think that is anywhere near the kind of racism that blacks have faced, but it was disturbing just the same.
I did teach him to ignore it, forgive it and to pray that little boy finds inner strength to not hate anyone or to try to hurt others via words. Again, yes, we are those tree huggers you hear about
I have no idea where I'm headed with this. I'm so far out of my zone with this subject. I guess I just felt the need to ramble.
