I know, that you know that I’m a black man because of this thread, so what the fuck is up with the “clever boy” comment in this thread? Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t even bother with this, but looking at your position when it comes to race and racial issues, I’m inclined to think that you just may be a punk ass racist. If you’re not a punk ass racist, fine, just don’t refer to me as boy again.
PS: If you feel that spelling your user name out insults you, maybe it’s time to change your user name?
I know nothing about y’alls history but hasn’t the term “clever boy” been around for awhile and in frequent use? I didn’t interpret the brief quote mentioned as being racist, just a mildly sarcastic backhand.
I’ve read Dewey before and never picked up on any racism. Do you have more because “racist” is a pretty offensive label to place on someone for use of a simple monniker.
Coldy, the word boy has a very explicit history in the U.S. in regards to white/black relations that goes beyond the typical “I dismiss your opinion as that of a callow youth” that it would carry in most conversations.
That said, I suspect that Dewey was not using it in that context. While Dewey is on record as fiercely opposing some aspects of racial politics in the U.S., notably Affirmative Action, I have not found him dismissive of black people, in general, and I suspect that “clever boy” was meant to be a complete phrase of dismissal, without introducing the extra element that “boy” carries with it.
I know nothing about y’alls history but hasn’t the term “clever boy” been around for awhile and in frequent use? I didn’t interpret the brief quote mentioned as being racist, just a mildly sarcastic backhand.
I’ve read Dewey before and never picked up on any racism. Do you have more because “racist” is a pretty offensive label to place on someone for use of a simple monniker.
I knew I’d heard it recently in a movie and it just came to me… the guy stalking live raptors in Jurassic Park called one of them that, heh, just before it ate him.
Thanks tom - maybe I should have mentioned it, but I am aware of the possible racist connotations of the word “boy”.
Like you, I just seem to think that DCU didn’t seem to be applying that particular usage. I was merely leaving some margin for error, just in case my estimation of the situation was off. I’m still a furrener, after all.
Until a few years back, I didn’t even know that “boy” was a derogatory term for black people, that southerners used to call all blacks “boy” regardless of age. I grew up in Illinois, never heard of it. I lived for several years here in Missouri, a semi-Southern state, and still never heard it until I called a 20-something white guy “boy” and subsequently found out that it was a racial slur. So I don’t think it’s a popular slur, and consequently I’ll assume that Dewey did not intend it that way unless I saw evidence to the contrary. Opposing affirmative action and using the word “boy” isn’t enough to support a flimsy accusation of racism without knowing more.
Dude, I had no idea you were black. Yeah, you may have mentioned it in some other thread, but there’s a lot of threads on this board, and there are lots of members. I’m dreadfully sorry, but I just don’t keep track of the race of each member of the board (other than those I’ve met IRL). Don’t flatter yourself.
I wasn’t calling you a “clever boy” because of your race. I was calling you a “clever boy” because your comment was stupid. There is a difference.
