# "Canadian" is now code for "n-word"?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 24, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684 "2008-04-24T15:04:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/1 "2008-04-24T15:04:52Z")
**Euphonius Polemic** brought this to our attention in post #51 of[this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=465128) [The _National Post_ reports:](http://www.nationalpost.com/most_popular/story.html?id=261254) > [@](#): > > It was a routine e-mail from the boss sent to congratulate a junior prosecutor in Houston, Tex., who had won manslaughter convictions against an intoxicated driver. > > “He convicted Mr. Sosa of a double intoxication manslaughter, got a weak jury to give him 12 years in each, and then convinced Judge Wallace to stack the sentences,” Harris County assistant district attorney Mike Trent wrote in an office-wide memo. Then came the odd part: “He overcame a subversively good defence by Matt Hennessey that had some Canadians on the jury feeling sorry for the defendant and forced them to do the right thing.” > > The e-mail was sent in 2003 but came to light only this month as part of an unrelated controversy with his office, forcing Mr. Trent to defend himself against accusations of bigotry – not because he offended the people of Canada, but because “Canadian” has apparently become a code word for blacks among American racists. > > \ > > It is unusual that a seasoned attorney like Mr. Trent would not have wondered how a Harris County jury came to be stacked with Canadians. (There were no Canadians on the jury but there were some black members.) “The only way that there could have been Canadians on the jury, was if they were born in Canada and then became U.S. citizens, and then became citizens of the county in which the case was tried,” Mr. Vinson noted. > > \ > > The bigger mystery is how “Canadian” came to be code for black. An online directory of racial slurs defines Canadian as a “masked replacement” for black. > > Last August, a blogger in Cincinnati going by the name CincyBlurg reported that a black friend from the southeastern U.S. had recently discovered that she was being called a Canadian. “She told me a story of when she was working in a shop in the South and she overheard some of her customers complaining that they were always waited on by a Canadian at that place. She didn’t understand what they were talking about and assumed they must be talking about someone else,” the blogger wrote. > > “After this happened several times with different patrons, she mentioned it to one of her co-workers. He told her that ‘Canadian’ was the new derogatory term that racist Southerners were using to describe persons they would have previously referred to [with the N-word.]” We live in strange times indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/2 "2008-04-24T15:11:19Z")
A few years ago I went out to happy hour with my wife and several of her co-workers. They were using ‘Canadians’ non-stop and by the end of the night I was fuming. My wife didn’t know what it meant and I didn’t tell her until later because I didn’t want to ruin her night. It carries all the asshole of the N word and none of the balls. It’s such a pussy term on top of being hateful. Interesting post script to that story: The lead asshole of the group ended up on a major primetime network tv show last year. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/3 "2008-04-24T15:13:50Z")
I guess this makes Newfie jokes doubly unfunny, then? ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/4 "2008-04-24T15:16:21Z")
Awww, Man! Now people are going to make me look racist when I poke at my Canadian friends. I mean, umm, some of my best friends are Canadian. Wait. I mean that. Really… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/5 "2008-04-24T15:16:32Z")
Actually, the cool kids say _Canizzle_. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/6 "2008-04-24T15:17:43Z")
As an _actual_ Canadian, this pisses me off. So these jerks aren’t brave enough to man up and admit their views? Let them twist in the wind next time they come crying to the real Canada for water or oil. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/7 "2008-04-24T15:26:41Z")
Was he not using “Canadian” as a synonym for “liberal” (or “Communist”) — as in “bleeding heart liberal”? Read in context, that actually makes sense, and wouldn’t be an off-the-wall insult, unlike conflating a racial epithet and a nation. The evidence that “Canadian” being used instead of “n\*gger” is widespread, cited in the article, is not even remotely convincing, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/8 "2008-04-24T15:28:38Z")
I’ve heard this term in use as well. I didn’t realize it was so widespread. When I first heard it, it was explained to me that it started as a term used by restaurant staff, presumably to indicate their perceived non-tipping status. I’ve also heard (from someone who uses _Canadians_ as well) that Hispanic people (or just plain “Mexicans”, as this sort of person usually refers to them) are called “janitors”. Some people. (This particar person was a friend of a friend of a friend; I normally don’t associate with racists). ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/9 "2008-04-24T15:35:21Z")
[QUOTE=Daithi Lacha] I guess this makes Newfie jokes doubly unfunny, then? [/QUOTE] So … Newfies are the Canadians of Canada, eh? But am I still safe in referring to our friends north of the border as Canucks? ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/10 "2008-04-24T16:07:11Z")
From the OP: > [@](#): > > The bigger mystery is how “Canadian” came to be code for black Could it somehow be related to the Underground Railroad? [Black Canadians - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Canadian#The_Underground_Railroad) There were many stops here and entire black communities in Nova Scotia trace their history in Canada back to the railroad. ---
**Author:** ![Eben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a8b319/32.png) [@Eben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eben)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/11 "2008-04-24T16:07:28Z")
Hm, I strongly suspect that’s being referenced in [Diesel Sweeties](http://www.dieselsweeties.com/), but I never got it until now. The only black character in the comic is Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/12 "2008-04-24T16:14:30Z")
[QUOTE=Capt. Ridley’s Shooting Party] The evidence that “Canadian” being used instead of “n\*gger” is widespread, cited in the article, is not even remotely convincing, IMO. [/QUOTE] I agree that the article by itself is not 100% convincing, but given that a couple of posters have already said that they’ve heard of it being used in that way… I’d guess that **Capt. Ridley’s Shooting Party** (and most posters in SDMB) do not associate with racists, so find it hard to imagine. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/13 "2008-04-24T16:17:45Z")
[QUOTE=Capt. Ridley’s Shooting Party] The evidence that “Canadian” being used instead of “n\*gger” is widespread, cited in the article, is not even remotely convincing, IMO. [/QUOTE] Perhaps not, but it’s true, at least around here. Since about 2002 or so, I’ve been hearing the term Canadian as unambiguous code for “black,” usually with the pejorative subtexts associated with the word “nigger.” It does not mean “liberal” or anything of the sort. It means “black”/“nigger” and has been around for at least 5 years in the Chicago area. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/14 "2008-04-24T16:24:26Z")
I’ve heard of it second hand, from folks that work in restaurants. FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/15 "2008-04-24T16:27:29Z")
Buh? [is very confused, goes back to corner] ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/16 "2008-04-24T16:31:51Z")
See: [Definitions 4, 9, 14, 16, 23, 25,and 33](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=canadian&page=1) #17 is interesting. “Canadian” is a “non-offending” New York code word for “Jews”? Anyone confirm? “Non-offending”? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/17 "2008-04-24T16:32:52Z")
That’s what happens when you suppress speech. The ideas remain. Only the words change. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/18 "2008-04-24T16:48:12Z")
[QUOTE=HongKongFooey] Could it somehow be related to the Underground Railroad? [/QUOTE] If this is true (and based on the posts here I believe it is), I think the idea is that there isn’t any obvious connection. It’s probably not inspired by anything historical; it’s just supposed to be something people wouldn’t expect to mean “black.” ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/19 "2008-04-24T16:49:41Z")
You see, this is why I need to go to the White People meetings. Its not like they put this stuff in the newsletters. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684/20 "2008-04-24T16:51:53Z")
You ever notice how white guys, they drive a car like this? But Canadian guys, they drive a car like _this_? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-is-now-code-for-n-word/446684.md?page=2)