Re: Redskin
Posted by R. Berg on April 01, 2002 In Reply to: RedSkin posted by Jen on
April 01, 2002
: Redskin is a racial slur today, but what was the logic behind
the word's origin? Because Indians scalped their victim, I'm assuming
this has something to do with it's origin. Doesn't anyone know?
The origin had to do with skin color (or supposed skin color),
not blood. Under "redskin," the Oxford English Dictionary refers
the reader to one of the definitions for "red": "Having (or regarded
as having) a reddish skin." People of other races are similarly
called black, white, or yellow, equally unrealistically.
The earliest quotation in the OED for "redskin" is "Ye first Meeting
House was solid mayde to withstande ye wicked onsaults of the Red
Skins" (1699).
- R. Berg Jen 04/02/02
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- Re: Redskin TheFallen 04/01/02
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