# The origin of Honky

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-honky/373802>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [September 23, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-honky/373802 "2006-09-23T02:06:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![k\_sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/50afbb/32.png) [@k\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k_sky)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-honky/373802/1 "2006-09-23T02:06:54Z")

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Hello, I just read your article on the origin of the word honky and would like to share what I was taught being raised in a close knit african American Family. I was taught that back in the old days white men of authority had a big thing for young black women and the parents of these young women in order to prevent something really bad happening to their sons or other family members had to give in too these mens desire. So what would happen was that they would drive up in their cars and honk their horns for these young women to come out, so actually the word which blacks and whites use and don’t know the meaning of (we were taught)actually means a white rapist.

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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2006, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-honky/373802/2 "2006-09-23T02:11:07Z")

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Hi, Welcome to the Dope and enjoy the visit.  
In this forum, it is standard to post a link to the article you are commented on.  
[What’s the origin of “honky”?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_257b.html)

It is also traditional for new guest not to be aware of this and the first reply to inform the new guest and provide the link.

Thank you for the contribution.

Jim

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-honky/373802/3 "2006-09-23T03:02:09Z")

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Other cites to back up Cecil’s explanation. Not based on word of mouth information.

> **[Penguin Random House](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com?date=19961003)**
>
> Committed to publishing great books, connecting readers and authors globally, and spreading the love of reading.

[http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorh.htm#honky](http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorh.htm#honky)

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**Author:** ![mattwhittall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@mattwhittall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattwhittall)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-honky/373802/4 "2006-09-23T03:14:50Z")

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well slavery was abolished in 1865, the first cars were made around 1900 and horns probably came sometime later than that, there wasnt much reason for a horn when there were only a few cars on the road. so i doubt thats how the name honky came about.