The state of Florida ran into some criticism last year when
it created an ad campaign aimed at minorities and the central
word was "Shine" as a play on Sunshine State, the
long-established slogan. The campaign was created by a
minority-owned ad agency and focus group tested before
minority audiences and no one raised the racist stigma.
According to a newspaper article, the term "Shine" derives
from "shoeshine" as in shoeshine stand. Here is an article on
the "Shine" campaign:
http://tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711280339
I imagine someone has written a history of racial slurs. Many
years ago when I worked in the Senate, I heard one of the
oddest race-based terms from someone who worked for Senator
Jesse Helms of North Carolina. The Helms staffer said
something like "That will keep the Freds happy" or something
like that. Asked to explain, he said that in the office they
used the word "Fred" to signify any black person. It was an
office code they used to identify (say when passing along a
telephone call to another staffer) someone as black without
anyone overhearing the term knowing what was going on.
Richard Moore
--- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "jacquesdebierue"
<jacquesdebierue@...> wrote:
>
> --- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "kevinburtonsmith"
<kvnsmith@>
> wrote:
>
> > Dang, you're right. The word "shine" is used
several times, mostly
> by a racist cop whom
> > Marlowe clearly disdains, but the phrase "shine
bar" doesn't. "Dinge
> joint" is, though. (Ain't
> > Google's book search feature fun?)
>
> I am not sure that "shine" would be understood by
today's general
> public. Is it even used somewhere?
>
> Best,
>
> mrt
>
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