[Ads-l] Antedating of Spelling "Nigga"

[Shapiro, Fred]

nigga

In my work with the Oxford Dictionary of African American English, I have been asked about this spelling of the n-word.  Here is an early citation I have found.  The speaker appears to have been African American.

1823 American Watchman and Delaware Advertiser (Wilmington, Del.) 8 July 3/3 (Genealogy Bank)  No sooner had Miss Dinah finished than Miss Judy began: — "You cossa bone ! indeed — you betta say you gridiron bar, you hussy, you.  You rocca belt ! rocca ! nothing but old half wore ledda hoss belly band, you stole out you massa's stable, you nigga you."

Fred Shapiro



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