The N-word at the time of Huck Finn

[Jesse Sheidlower]

On Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 02:53:43PM -0400, David Bowie wrote:
> From:    "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
>
>> Barbara, if you don't have quick access to the on-line OED the
>> following might help---or not!  It seems terribly complex.  [I've
>> omitted most of the 20th-century quotations.]
>
>> Draft revision Mar. 2009.
>
> <snip down to>
>
>> b. Any person whose behaviour is regarded as reprehensible. derogatory.
>> 1840 W. G. SIMMS Border Beagles xxv, They're [sc. white officers of
>> justice] afraid of me, the niggers, and you see I ain't afraid of
>> them. [1861 Let. in H. Holzer Dear Mr. Lincoln 361 Abe
>> Lincoln..goddam you..you are nothing but a goddam Black nigger.]
>
> The first citation seems to fit the definition to me, but the second one
> (absent further context) seems possibly neutral, just in an aggressive
> context. That is, if the letter-writer was trying to equate Lincoln with
> those of African descent (not an unusual thing for those opposed to his
> views on slavery and such issues), it may have been a more neutral
> reference to race than the definition would have it.

The fact that it's in brackets is meant to suggest that we
don't regard the quotation as clearly exemplifying the defined
sense, pretty much for the reason you state.

Jesse Sheidlower
OED

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