Is 'Cracker Barrel' Offensive To White People? Thousands Sign Prank Petition To Change Restaurant Name

CBS DETROIT - An online petition posted in jest has garnered a surprising amount of support.

Titled "Change the name of Cracker Barrel to Caucasian Barrel," the Change.org petition penned by Ryan Koch of Iowa asserts that the popular old country eatery's moniker is disrespectful to white people.

"I say all of us European Americans start protesting C****er Barrel," Koch writes. "It uses an offensive slur and it is deeply offensive and mocks our long and proud heritage...The name is offensive, their logo stereotypes European Americans as people who sit on chairs and lean against what appears to be a bourbon barrel, claiming we are all a bunch of alcoholics."

Thanks to shares on social media, the petition in less than a week collected more than 13,500 signatures (as of Monday morning) and pages and pages of supportive comments.

"I've been oppressed all these years and didn't even know it," wrote Matthew Fleisher.

Benjamin Rollins explained his reason for signing: "I despise being referred to as a 'cracker. I prefer the term 'Saltine-American.'"

Added Harold Lines, "The Confederate battle flag came to me in a dream and whispered that my friends would call me names if I didn't display a certain level of butthurt about this."

Clearly surprised by all the attention the petition has received, Koch posted an update, explaining that he wasn't expecting to be taken seriously, and holds no ill will toward the restaurant chain.

"I started this satirical petition in lieu of constant media reports of various groups and organizations constantly wanting to change things throughout the country because they claim they are offended. The petition was meant to shed light on how ridiculous all of the political correctness currently going on in the country is, and how we should focus on real issues..." adding that it was meant strictly "for satirical and comedic purposes to show how ridiculous political correctness is getting in America."

Cracker Barrel was the subject of a genuine discrimination debate back in 2002, when — in a class-action lawsuit — the NAACP accused the Tennessee-based business of segregating black customers in the smoking section and denying them service.

Does this story have you craving biscuits and gravy? Cracker Barrel has two metro Detroit locations: Rosevillle, at I-94 and Little Mack; and Belleville, at I-94 and Belleville Road. [Find more Cracker Barrel restaurants, HERE].