Picaninny (Noun)
Meaning
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a Black child.
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Usages
Examples
- The term 'picaninny' is a highly offensive ethnic slur and its use is strongly discouraged.
- Picaninny was once a relatively common but racial and pejorative term for young black children.
- Historians have identified examples of the word 'picaninny' in plantation writing from the mid-1800s.
- A cartoon from that era showed a small black child labeled as 'picaninny' being threatened by a character.
- A number of activists pointed out to the online magazine that the use of the picaninny image is upsetting to some.