Why equal “ Spook ” a blot utilize to refer to African Americans ?
I realize that the Bibleghostbe a racial blot that rose in usage during WWII ; I as well know Germans called dark gunnersSpookwaffe. What I do n’t understand iswhy.
Specterlook to too mean ‘ghost ‘ in German . Cause the Americans predict them spooks because the Germans do ? If so , why did the Germans scream them that ? Or , if the Germans called them that because Americans called them spooks , then why did the Americans predict them that ? And how did Americans know the Germans had a nickname for black gunner ?
1 Answer
Spook was actually used by black people to refer to white people , presumably on the feeling of “ white ” specter .
specter n .[ SE spook , a specter ]
- ( US dark ) a white someone .
- 1939 [ US ] P.E . Miller Down Beat ’ sec Yearbook of Swing n.p . : specter : a white player .
- 1944 [ US ] D. Burley Orig . Hbk of Harlem Jive 19 : U.s. youthful homes , and lane and hipstuds , gray and fay , and spook and nigger .
- ( US dark ) a white person .
- 1939 [ US ] P.E . Miller Down Beat ’ s Yearbook of Swing n.p . : ghost : a white musician .
- 1944 [ US ] D. Burley Orig . Hbk of Harlem Jive 19 : U.s. young plate , and lanes and hipstuds , gray and fay , and ghost and nigger .
As for its use about black masses , Etymonline suggests that :
The derogatory racial sense of “ dark person ” is attested from 1945 , perhaps from the notion of sullen skin exist difficult to learn at dark .
The derogatory racial sense of “ dark someone ” is certify from 1945 , maybe from the notion of colored skin being difficult to see at night .
The following article from the Newsweek.com have an interesting story on how the term spook live initially use to refer to black masses :
Accord to Merriam-Webster , the news “ spooky ” is define as , “ relating to , resemble or suggest spooks . ” A further break-down of “ specter ” devote means to the meaning , “ ghost , ghost ” or “ an undercover agent : spy . ” But the Dutch Bible describe apparitions , which first do into habit around the 19th century , remove on a more sinister mean around World War II , when white American soldiers started look up to their Black counterparts as “ spooks . ”
To begin with , pilots of the Tuskegee Institute—derived of the first Black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps—were yell the “ Spookwaffe ” —a turn on the German term “ waffe , ” which signify weapon or gun . When airmen repay from their post with the nickname , white Americans caught wind of the name and began relate the term “ specter ” to blackness , thus result in the word transitioning into a racial blot and its derogatory habit .
According to Merriam-Webster , the news “ spooky ” is determine as , “ refer to , resembling or suggesting spooks . ” A further break-down of “ specter ” gives mode to the meaning , “ ghost , ghost ” or “ an undercover agent : spy . ” But the Dutch Bible describe apparitions , which first arrive into use around the 19th hundred , remove on a more sinister think of around World War II , when white American soldiers initiate look up to their Black counterparts as “ ghost . ”
Originally , pilots of the Tuskegee Institute—derived of the first Black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps—were called the “ Spookwaffe ” —a turn on the German term “ waffe , ” which mean weapon or gun . When airmen returned from their position with the nickname , white Americans grab tip of the epithet and began associate the term “ spook ” to blackness , thus resulting in the word transitioning into a racial slur and its derogatory use .
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