# Dewey Cheatem Undhow, are you a punk ass racist? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 10, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350 "2003-03-10T17:41:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/1 "2003-03-10T17:41:26Z")
_Do we cheat them and how_ = **Dewey Cheatem Undhow** > [@](#): > > 1. Is it too much to ask that you use my actual username? Yes, you caught the joke, you clever boy you. I get the vague feeling that by spelling it out, you’re trying to be insulting. I know, that you know that I’m a black man because of this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=152876&perpage=50&pagenumber=3), so what the fuck is up with the **“clever boy”** comment in this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=168195)? 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? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/2 "2003-03-10T17:48:15Z")
Hmmm. I may be way off here as English is not my first language, but I’d say you’re reading too much into the word “boy” here, Phil. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/3 "2003-03-10T17:48:52Z")
By that I mean that Dewey was being condescending, but not racist. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/4 "2003-03-10T17:48:53Z")
Oh boy, a Pitting! Regards, Shodan d&r ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/5 "2003-03-10T17:51:03Z")
And by **EasyPhil** , the most thin-skinned, quick to call anyone or anything he disagrees with racist, uptight moron on the board! ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/6 "2003-03-10T17:52:27Z")
those moles are buildin’ 'em big these days. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/7 "2003-03-10T17:53:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/8 "2003-03-10T17:56:35Z")
**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. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/9 "2003-03-10T17:58:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/10 "2003-03-10T18:04:35Z")
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. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/11 "2003-03-10T18:09:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/12 "2003-03-10T18:17:09Z")
Oh please EasyPhil. This accusation almost sounds like it belongs in a SNL sketch. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/13 "2003-03-10T18:18:57Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/14 "2003-03-10T18:21:10Z")
Don’t call him dude either. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/15 "2003-03-10T18:22:01Z")
Dammit, what _can_ I call him? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/16 "2003-03-10T18:28:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dewey Cheatem Undhow \* > \*\*Dammit, what _can_ I call him? 😃 \*\* Hun? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/17 "2003-03-10T18:29:02Z")
Missus? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/18 "2003-03-10T18:30:51Z")
\*Originally posted by KidCharlemagne \* > [@](#): > > Don’t call him dude either. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/19 "2003-03-10T18:36:37Z")
Er…is **EasyPhil** a damsel rather than a dude? Or am I being whooshed in some other way? ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350/20 "2003-03-10T18:36:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dewey Cheatem Undhow \* > \*\*Dammit, what _can_ I call him? 😃 \*\* I’d recommend going with “Honey Bunny Duckie Downy Sweetie Chicken Pie Li’l Ever-Lovin’ Jelly Bean,” but that might offend readers of “Pogo.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dewey-cheatem-undhow-are-you-a-punk-ass-racist/160350.md?page=2)