Date:  Wed, 24 Aug 1994 23:40:38 -0400

From:  "Becky Howard, Department of Interdisciplinary Writing,

     Colgate University" <BHOWARD[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CENTER.COLGATE.EDU>

Subject: Re: What is a Racist Term?



The particular term under discussion, "poor white trash," seems to me to

function both as a racist and classist epithet. Certainly it refers to

class--to those above & below the line, as Michael put it. But it also refers

to race, and not whites--it's an oblique reference to the Other (presumably

African American). The social context of "poor white trash" seems to me to

be specifying "trashy, even though white."



Becky Howard

Department of Interdisciplinary Writing

Colgate University

BHOWARD[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CENTER.COLGATE.EDU