Is the term “Canadian” the new code word for racist references to black people? « The Frame Problem

Is the term “Canadian” the new code word for racist references to black people? « The Frame Problem

I read an interesting article in this week’s newsletter of the Clarington Durham Regional Humanists. Apparently the term “Canadian” is being used by some in the Texas court system as a safe code word for “Black people”. Apparently this usage of “Canadian” is being used a bit more broadly than just be Texan court workers, as this usage of the word is the 4th listed definition of “Canadian” on Urban Dictionary, and has received 316 thumbs up ratings versus 192 thumbs downs.

Here is the definition offered at Urban Dictionary:

Expression for black people used by whites as “code” when they want to refer to blacks in a semi-derogatory manner without being detected in a group of people

“Jeezus, look at all the Canadians out tonight.”

Tags for this definition include “spooks”, “porch monkeys”, “jigs”, and “Africans”.

Here is the post from the CDRH Humanist Hub (as linked in the newsletter):

Is term ‘Canadian’ used as racist word?
Email lands Texas district attorney in hot waterhttp://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/297666Is term ‘Canadian’ used as racist word?

Email lands Texas district attorney in hot water
Jan 26, 2008 04:30 AM
Brett Popplewell
Staff Reporter

Is “Canadian” the new black? Perhaps – that is if you’re a racist speaking in code.