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Nikkums · Jul 16, 2007, 12:11 pm

Is the term "wetback" considered a racial slur??

While speaking with a friend from Texas, I was "informed" that this term is not meant to be derogatory and is part of the culture for people who live in Texas. Where I come from, it is a racial slur and is considered very demeaning.

What is your opinion?

ZNFYRH · Jul 16, 2007, 12:18 pm

Is "nigger" a racial slur?

Just because one group thinks it's okay doesn't make the word less derogatory.

Here's the other clue to the nature of the word... if a bunch of people call each other "wetback" or "nigger" but get pissed when someone not-their-race says it, then it's still a racial slur.

"wetback" is a slur.

Nikkums · Jul 16, 2007, 01:24 pm

My thoughts exactly.

Perhaps there is someone who lives in southern Texas that might be able to give a point of view? Why is it considered acceptable there? Especially when the number of people the term can be used to refer to is much higher.

freddyrussell · Jul 18, 2007, 10:42 am

i have never heard of this word in the UK.

Racial Slur refering to Mexicans. The term originates from Operation Wetback.
In 1949 the Border Patrol seized nearly 280,000 illegal immigrants. By 1953, the numbers had grown to more than 865,000, and the U.S. government felt pressured to do something about the onslaught of immigration. What resulted was Operation Wetback, devised in 1954 under the supervision of new commissioner of the Immigration and Nationalization Service, Gen. Joseph Swing.

Swing oversaw the Border patrol, and organized state and local officials along with the police. The object of his intense border enforcement were "illegal aliens," but common practice of Operation Wetback focused on Mexicans in general. The police swarmed through Mexican American barrios throughout the southeastern states. Some Mexicans, fearful of the potential violence of this militarization, fled back south across the border. In 1954, the agents discovered over 1 million illegal immigrants.

In some cases, illegal immigrants were deported along with their American-born children, who were by law U.S. citizens. The agents used a wide brush in their criteria for interrogating potential aliens. They adopted the practice of stopping "Mexican-looking&quo t; citizens on the street and asking for identification. This practice incited and angered many U.S. citizens who were of Mexican American descent. Opponents in both the United States and Mexico complained of "police-state" methods, and Operation Wetback was abandoned.

Has Sanchez's family crossed the border yet? Those goofy wetbacks!

It does seem less demeaning than "nigger" and "chinky".

Jul 16, 2007, 12:11 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
Nikkums Molten Ash Posts: 89	Is "wetback" a racial slur? Is the term "wetback" considered a racial slur?? While speaking with a friend from Texas, I was "informed" that this term is not meant to be derogatory and is part of the culture for people who live in Texas. Where I come from, it is a racial slur and is considered very demeaning. What is your opinion?

Jul 16, 2007, 12:18 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
ZNFYRH Volcanic Erupter Posts: 4,375	Is "nigger" a racial slur? Just because one group thinks it's okay doesn't make the word less derogatory. Here's the other clue to the nature of the word... if a bunch of people call each other "wetback" or "nigger" but get pissed when someone not-their-race says it, then it's still a racial slur. "wetback" is a slur. IT'S A BOY!!

Jul 16, 2007, 01:24 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Nikkums Molten Ash Posts: 89	My thoughts exactly. Perhaps there is someone who lives in southern Texas that might be able to give a point of view? Why is it considered acceptable there? Especially when the number of people the term can be used to refer to is much higher.

Jul 18, 2007, 10:42 am	#4 (permalink) (top)
freddyrussell Freddy Russell Location: Derbyshire, England Posts: 4	i have never heard of this word in the UK. Racial Slur refering to Mexicans. The term originates from Operation Wetback. In 1949 the Border Patrol seized nearly 280,000 illegal immigrants. By 1953, the numbers had grown to more than 865,000, and the U.S. government felt pressured to do something about the onslaught of immigration. What resulted was Operation Wetback, devised in 1954 under the supervision of new commissioner of the Immigration and Nationalization Service, Gen. Joseph Swing. Swing oversaw the Border patrol, and organized state and local officials along with the police. The object of his intense border enforcement were "illegal aliens," but common practice of Operation Wetback focused on Mexicans in general. The police swarmed through Mexican American barrios throughout the southeastern states. Some Mexicans, fearful of the potential violence of this militarization, fled back south across the border. In 1954, the agents discovered over 1 million illegal immigrants. In some cases, illegal immigrants were deported along with their American-born children, who were by law U.S. citizens. The agents used a wide brush in their criteria for interrogating potential aliens. They adopted the practice of stopping "Mexican-looking&quo t; citizens on the street and asking for identification. This practice incited and angered many U.S. citizens who were of Mexican American descent. Opponents in both the United States and Mexico complained of "police-state" methods, and Operation Wetback was abandoned. Has Sanchez's family crossed the border yet? Those goofy wetbacks! It does seem less demeaning than "nigger" and "chinky".