"Right on"

[Jesse Sheidlower]

On Wed, Nov 10, 2004 at 08:56:12AM -0800, Kathy Seal wrote:
>
> Can anyone tell me when the expression "Right on!" entered
>American speech? I'm a journalist and author wondering if it
>would be appropriate to use that expression in dialog taking
>place in April, 1968.

It would probably not be appropriate, unless one of the
interlocutors happens to be Bobby Seale or someone like that.
If you can't move the scene to mid-1970 or later, I wouldn't
use this expression if you're concerned with historical
accuracy.

Jesse Sheidlower
Oxford English Dictionary