I would have to see the exchange. (Reply #7)

In the discussion thread: is asking a black man to dance a "jig" racist? [View all]

Response to arely staircase (Original post)

Wed Feb 1, 2012, 10:09 PM

renie408 (9,854 posts)

7. I would have to see the exchange.

As you posted, a jig is a type of dance. I was born in Charleston, SC and the farthest north I have ever lived was just inside the NC state line. I have never heard 'jigaboo' shortened to 'jig'. Not that it can't happen, but I think I have probably heard every single horrid, racist term for a black person in my 48 years in the South.

The woman might have been racist or thought she was being cute, but I would imagine that Barack Obama is so far above that sort of thing that he just took it in stride and kept right on rolling along. If she was trying to take a shot at him, I would think she failed miserably.

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184 replies	Author	Time	Post
is asking a black man to dance a "jig" racist? [View all]	arely staircase	Feb 2012	OP
of course it is. and she did it with a big smile.	seabeyond	Feb 2012	#1
and yet some are all upset because HE said the word "interesting"	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#3
isnt it amazing. i saw the thread. i couldnt believe. the OUTRAGE. she did a racial	seabeyond	Feb 2012	#6
Indeed - she admits to being a Republican - and was way, way out of line with that racist shit	slay	Feb 2012	#146
She didn't have the nerve to ask for a full impromptu minstrel show.	eShirl	Feb 2012	#2
But the word "minstrel"	pecwae	Feb 2012	#141
Being a republican in Texas usually makes u racist.	GusFring	Feb 2012	#4
is she one? nt	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#5
without knowing her personally.... hell ya. nt	seabeyond	Feb 2012	#8
it's at 48:17	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#10
These people are making me ill	treestar	Feb 2012	#126
it would explain a lot. nt	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#14
Yes - she is a Republican	slay	Feb 2012	#148
I would have to see the exchange.	renie408	Feb 2012	#7
see post #10 nt	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#73
I think racism in some is so inate that they dont even recognize it when	rhett o rick	Feb 2012	#9
i think she knew exactly what she was doing. nt	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#13
Agree - how does	xxqqqzme	Feb 2012	#122
Not once... not ever...	JSnuffy	Feb 2012	#11
then count yourself luckyi have. it is short for	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#17
So have I. In the north.	Jackpine Radical	Feb 2012	#89
I Second Jackpine's Observation - eom	ProfessorGAC	Feb 2012	#99
I'll third that	Morning Dew	Feb 2012	#117
Same here, in Alabama.	trof	Feb 2012	#174
urban dictionary	bigtree	Feb 2012	#20
wikipedia - the bit of etymology i put in bold makes me think she meant it that way	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#25
It's a racial slur	DefenseLawyer	Feb 2012	#31
Highly debateable	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#33
It's not an either or proposition	DefenseLawyer	Feb 2012	#35
Actually it is both, depending on context	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#48
I was responding to a particular statement	DefenseLawyer	Feb 2012	#59
Maybe she was calling him a fish.	Life Long Dem	Feb 2012	#78
I never once suggested she was calling him anything	DefenseLawyer	Feb 2012	#85
My point is that it isn't in the common usage...	JSnuffy	Feb 2012	#94
Lot's of videos at youtube using it....	The Straight Story	Feb 2012	#34
so youtube makes it legitimate?	bigtree	Feb 2012	#38
I did not say either way, was replying to someone who had not heard it before	The Straight Story	Feb 2012	#44
I saw those in my searches	bigtree	Feb 2012	#54
then you haven't experienced shit. nt	dionysus	Feb 2012	#57
Mmhmm....	JSnuffy	Feb 2012	#66
Yes, it appears to be a waste. n/t	HangOnKids	Feb 2012	#154
LOVE YOU	HangOnKids	Feb 2012	#153
This isn't sticking to the wall.	Life Long Dem	Feb 2012	#77
well, your 'fish' excuse certainly didn't float	bigtree	Feb 2012	#80
Ha ha... I'm sure it didn't.	Life Long Dem	Feb 2012	#86
i knew what it meant and i am not around this stuff. have heard it all my life. nt	seabeyond	Feb 2012	#92
I have - grew up in Indiana	xxqqqzme	Feb 2012	#121
'jig' or not	bigtree	Feb 2012	#12
I agree. That is the thing that struck me.	Kellerfeller	Feb 2012	#139
The term "jig" is not inherently racist.	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#15
the word has a racist past	bigtree	Feb 2012	#23
It has a much longer historical non-racist usage and context is quite clear on intent	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#29
the older non-racist meaning "a type of dance" was the root of the racial slur	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#39
The problem is the older meanings are also current, valid, and clearly non-racist.	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#52
I have never in my life heard the word jig in a racist way...	a la izquierda	Feb 2012	#40
well, i am scots-irish and mexican. i know what jigs and reels are. ive seen them performed.	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#70
Welp, you learn something new and awful every day.	a la izquierda	Feb 2012	#96
Professor, I have lived this	bigtree	Feb 2012	#32
As a black American, I look at context from which intent is clear	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#37
i put a link in post #10 nt	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#42
Thanks, I just watched it	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#53
well now you have to explain the meaning of that lol	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#58
It was sufficiently incredible that I am not sure what to make of it	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#65
You're a black American and don't understand the historical significance of that word	Liberal_Stalwart71	Feb 2012	#71
I fully understand its provenance and its also used in the UK and Ireland as a slur.	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#76
Why can't you just admit that it has racial overtones? I don't understand	Liberal_Stalwart71	Feb 2012	#97
gee, maybe if he'd danced a jig for her, she would have invited him on a	Gabi Hayes	Feb 2012	#50
It looks like a GOP setup to show Obama pandering	itsrobert	Feb 2012	#16
yeah, he handled it well. nt	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#21
She may be racist.	countingbluecars	Feb 2012	#18
Silly Sally Went To Town	MissB	Feb 2012	#19
yes, as i said - it has two meanings nt	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#22
Did she ask him to show his teeth?	grasswire	Feb 2012	#24
I've had non-racist cause to do so; very few other people have.	Donald Ian Rankin	Feb 2012	#26
My daughters and wife learned some of the classic jigs and reels	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#41
Hard to tell	RZM	Feb 2012	#27
come to east texas some time - it is still used here behind the pine curtain. nt	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#47
I'm not saying it's not out there	RZM	Feb 2012	#60
you are right and your anecdote is just like many stories i could tell	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#64
Well I wouldn't be too hard on the guy in my story	RZM	Feb 2012	#75
Why are people in this thread trying so hard to dismiss this obvious racial slur?	Liberal_Stalwart71	Feb 2012	#72
Anyone else remember this MAS*H classic?	KansDem	Feb 2012	#28
I remember that	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#45
I had completely forgotten that	bigtree	Feb 2012	#62
is "gettin jiggy wit it" racist?	frylock	Feb 2012	#30
is asking a black man to dance a "jig" racist?	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#36
thank you . nt	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#51
the etymology of the word "jig" is a part of this discussion..	frylock	Feb 2012	#113
Do you think it's now ok to ask a black person to dance a jig	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#119
no	frylock	Feb 2012	#177
let you in on a secret - words can have more than one meaning.	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#49
I'd bet the farm that 'jiggy' originated from 'jig'	RZM	Feb 2012	#69
From 'jig', but not necessarily from the derogatory meaning	muriel_volestrangler	Feb 2012	#109
Only if he's Irish. nt	Snake Alchemist	Feb 2012	#43
Obama actually has some traceable Irish roots	ProgressiveProfessor	Feb 2012	#74
Alright Arely. The jig is up. nt	Snake Alchemist	Feb 2012	#46
..................."and GONE." That's a line from History of The World.	Hassin Bin Sober	Feb 2012	#178
Bruce Willis can be blamed for reviving the word. nt	Snake Alchemist	Feb 2012	#180
Actually, I thought it was an Irish term....as in an Irish Jig....	a kennedy	Feb 2012	#55
and asking a black man to dance for you is...?	eShirl	Feb 2012	#63
It doesn't look good...	ecstatic	Feb 2012	#56
i missed the repub from texas part the first time - i am from and currently in texas	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#61
This reminded me of a hilarious scene in one of the "Ocean"	quinnox	Feb 2012	#67
Bernie Mac?	eShirl	Feb 2012	#82
I sure thought it was	jsmirman	Feb 2012	#68
K & R!	lonestarnot	Feb 2012	#79
She could have avoided this entirely	Generic Brad	Feb 2012	#81
I also know I wouldn't ask someone for help finding a job AND	jsmirman	Feb 2012	#83
Maybe she is taking it back	joeglow3	Feb 2012	#84
i haven't seen that in years - i didn't even remember wanda sykes being in it. nt	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#87
This is just my opinion	The Genealogist	Feb 2012	#88
+1	Gormy Cuss	Feb 2012	#150
If you have to ask, it's ALWAYS racist.	saras	Feb 2012	#90
That is a ridiculous standard...	JSnuffy	Feb 2012	#95
"but only with 2+ people in the within direct line of sight?"	HangOnKids	Feb 2012	#163
Yes.	ellie	Feb 2012	#91
If it wasn't racist, it was surely the most demeaning, rude thing ...	frazzled	Feb 2012	#93
We are Irish, it wouldn't be a slur... but I have no idea why anyone even if they were Irish would	NotThisTime	Feb 2012	#98
This message was self-deleted by its author	redqueen	Feb 2012	#102
Yes	Chill Keney	Feb 2012	#100
Would that woman have asked any other president to "dance" for her?	City Lights	Feb 2012	#101
Ehhh... Big big reach.	chrisa	Feb 2012	#103
yes. it is just kinda a joke amongst the white. why are the blacks being so sensitive	seabeyond	Feb 2012	#108
It was a weird comment, but I'm not getting what people are seeing here.	chrisa	Feb 2012	#114
Yes.	redqueen	Feb 2012	#104
Maybe she had just watched "The Last Boy Scout"? nt	Snake Alchemist	Feb 2012	#105
Yes...	joeybee12	Feb 2012	#106
He is.	Donald Ian Rankin	Feb 2012	#123
I think asking him to sing and dance reveals a racist presumption on her part	deutsey	Feb 2012	#107
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#129
They asked him to go on American Idol and sing with Al Green.	Major Hogwash	Feb 2012	#130
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#131
I don't know if you were hasty or not, I just saw it on the Yahoo News page is all	Major Hogwash	Feb 2012	#135
I don't know about that	deutsey	Feb 2012	#133
Please. Nobody asked or commanded him to sing at the Apollo.	redqueen	Feb 2012	#142
Is corporate calling the tune, again, lol?	T S Justly	Feb 2012	#110
This message was self-deleted by its author	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#136
I've never heard the term jig used in a racist way..	octothorpe	Feb 2012	#111
That woman was anti-Obama all the way--I sometimes wonder if she was a set up	WI_DEM	Feb 2012	#112
She could be a troll. Who knows.	chrisa	Feb 2012	#115
Well given that it's an Irish folk dance	treestar	Feb 2012	#116
Yes n/t	Spazito	Feb 2012	#118
I always thought dancing a jig was an Irish thing....	Marrah_G	Feb 2012	#120
I don't know, but it was disrespectful.	Quantess	Feb 2012	#124
Pres. Obama is not renowned for either British folk dancing or fly-fishing	LanternWaste	Feb 2012	#125
Now that is a word I have not heard in a long time.	Rex	Feb 2012	#127
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#128
Defending racist Republicans	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#138
+1	uponit7771	Feb 2012	#140
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#147
Keep making excuses for this Racist Pig	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#159
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#165
Sycophants are now people who don't defend racism like yourself.	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#166
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#168
It's clear where your POV on this matter is coming from.	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#169
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#170
Lol. I'm closeminded to racism. You're doing a great job at keeping your mind open.	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#171
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#172
Who is this "we" you're talking about?	redqueen	Feb 2012	#143
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#144
Way more people than just DUers are pissed at this racist BS. nt	redqueen	Feb 2012	#145
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#151
And sometimes a question is not just a question	LanternWaste	Feb 2012	#152
This message was self-deleted by its author	Obamanaut	Feb 2012	#167
That must be it...	BklnDem75	Feb 2012	#181
I was just on a jury with the 'JIG' - I was wondering why...	LynneSin	Feb 2012	#132
Jon Stewart did the best riff on this.	Cleita	Feb 2012	#134
Interesting how some of the bigger Obama haters around here are ok with this	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#137
What are you talking about? Care to show some proof?	slay	Feb 2012	#149
Kaw KaKaw Kaw KaKaw	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#156
I hear ya	slay	Feb 2012	#158
You're ok in my book slay	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#162
You know the bigger Obama haters around here?	HangOnKids	Feb 2012	#155
Yeah I do	Son of Gob	Feb 2012	#157
Testy Testy Testy	HangOnKids	Feb 2012	#160
Why share your lists with everyone?	pecwae	Feb 2012	#183
To dance a jig is not racist.	BeeBee	Feb 2012	#161
Why not just ask him to dance then? Or dance the macarena?	slay	Feb 2012	#164
You know, I thought I was just a little sensitive when I heard that idiot say that...	Ecumenist	Feb 2012	#173
For what it's worth, it looks like that girl from Texas has decided to vote for Obama...	Drunken Irishman	Feb 2012	#175
good news..hearts can change...maybe there was some self-evaluation	arely staircase	Feb 2012	#176
leaving racial overtones aside, for a moment ....	marasinghe	Feb 2012	#179
at the time i thought so	SwampG8r	Feb 2012	#182
I've never heard that term in reference to race.	pecwae	Feb 2012	#184

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