use of "sunshine" as a racial slur against blacks

[Sam Clements]

The use of 'shine' as a derogatory appelation for a Black would almost
certainly come from 'sunshine.'  At least, that was always my guess.

Any examples of how long 'shine' has been used that way?

Sam Clements
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 19:15
Subject: Re: use of "sunshine" as a racial slur against blacks


> I've never heard it so used, but I *have* heard it once or twice as a
> playful form of address (as by older waitresses to male diners in
> downscale
> Southern eateries), i.e., "How are you today, sunshine?"
>
> The earliest ex. I know of is in James Forbes's play "The Show Shop"
> (1914) in _The Famous Mrs. Fair and Other Plays_ (N.Y.: George H. Doran,
> 1919), p. 99:
>
> "ROSENBAUM: Hello, Sadie. [To TOMPKINS] Hello, Sunshine. We've got to slam
> this show through."
>
> Tompkins's first name is given as "Wilbur."
>
> JL
>
> On Mon, Mar 2, 2009 at 7:02 PM, Jocelyn Limpert
> <jocelyn.limpert at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>> -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       Jocelyn Limpert <jocelyn.limpert at GMAIL.COM>
>> Subject:      use of "sunshine" as a racial slur against blacks
>>
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Does anyone have any information as to the origins of or current usage of
>> "sunshine" being used in speech today in a derrogatory way as a racial
>> slur
>> against blacks/African-Americans?
>>
>> A friend asked me for information concerning this and I could find little
>> in
>> the online searches that I did. Usually I'm much more successful, so I
>> would
>> appreciate any help that you can give me.
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org