[Ads-l] Antedating of "Nigger" as a Neutral or Favorable Term Used by Blacks

[Shapiro, Fred]

nigger (OED, I.1.c., 1831)

1809 Republican (Savannah, Ga., 11 Mar. 3 (America's Historical Newspapers)

[Letter to the editor:]  Massa say, he tell me bring fork — when me bring fork, me say, present arms." Me no tink massa cratch out him own head sitch story, to ruin poor nigger character. ... MASSA NIGGER.

NOTE:  I suppose it is possible that this letter to the editor was a fictional story written by a white person.

***

1809 Star (Raleigh, N.C.) 7 Sept. 180 (America's Historical Newspapers)

The other evening, allured by the splendour of a fine moon, I looked from my covert to observe how matters sped about me, when I was attracted by the appearance of an old African Negro ... While these ideas occupied me, the old Negro fixed his eyes serenely on the moon, and with the native wildness of his country, sang these words.

O! poor Nigger he will go.
Hummunday.

***

Fred Shapiro



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