# Oppressed by the man?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppressed-by-the-man/243801>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 6, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppressed-by-the-man/243801 "2004-05-06T07:24:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppressed-by-the-man/243801/1 "2004-05-06T07:24:52Z")

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So where does the concept of using the phrase “the man” to mean oppressive or overwhelming authority come from originally?

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**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppressed-by-the-man/243801/2 "2004-05-06T10:45:50Z")

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The first time I heard it was from Stokely Carmichael, I think. He also coined “black power”.

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppressed-by-the-man/243801/3 "2004-05-06T13:15:28Z")

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Probably from the concept of “the man in charge,” extended to mean any people or institutions in a position of power or privilege.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oppressed-by-the-man/243801/4 "2004-05-06T18:46:47Z")

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> [@Libertarian](#):
>
> The first time I heard it was from Stokely Carmichael, I think. He also coined “black power”.

It long predates Carmichael. It was used by Leadbelly (Huddie Ledbetter) in his classic blues [Midnight Special](http://www.theonlineblues.com/huddie-leadbelly-ledbetter-midnight-special-lyrics.htm). I’m not sure of the date of “Midnight Special,” but Leadbelly died in 1949.

> [@](#):
>
> When you get up in the morning when that big bell rings,  
> You go marching to the table, you see the same old thing,  
> Knife and fork are on the table, ain’t nothin in my pan,  
> And you say a word about it you get in trouble with the man.

“The man” in this case indicates prison guards.