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Earthshine2

(4,044 posts)

65. I never associated the term "maroon" with racism until reading this thread. Consider this ...

Mon Dec 28, 2020, 07:41 AM

Dec 2020

The word "octoroon" was used in former times to describe a person who is 1/8 black and 7/8 presumably white.

The word "quadroon" was used to describe a person who is 1/4 black. (A parent of an octoroon.)

The term "maroon" may have root-word commonality. Someone who is separated and isolated.

I think Bugs Bunny (a childhood and adult favorite) was using a censor-friendly version of "moron" by calling Elmer Fudd a "maroon."

Curiously, I recently saw the movie "Invitation to a Gunfighter" starring Yul Brenner. In the movie, which takes place right after the civil war, the gunslinger hero described himself as a "quadroon." His skin tone was intentionally made quite reddish (maroon?) from makeup. Everyone else was very white.

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What is a maroon? [View all] reACTIONary Dec 2020 OP

But is that how the word was known/used in the mid-20th Century? Sanity Claws Dec 2020 #1

I don't know, but... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #5

You may be thinking of "moran" Towlie Dec 2020 #2

Nope. Maroon... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #8

Just another word for moron (i.e. idiot) tinrobot Dec 2020 #73

Don't know about maroons SCantiGOP Dec 2020 #3

As far as I'm concerned a maroon is a MORON as used in the 20/21 century Raine Dec 2020 #4

He was mispronouncing the word "moron." The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2020 #6

That may be, but... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author Hekate Dec 2020 #47

+1 2naSalit Dec 2020 #15

Agree nt Raine Dec 2020 #19

I think someone is bored tonight Hekate Dec 2020 #49

Yes, Quite obviously. cwydro Dec 2020 #64

One Of The Earliest Professional Football Teams Was Called The Pottsville Maroons ChoppinBroccoli Dec 2020 #7

That's all it was -- the team's colors. This is being waaaayyy over thought. Progressive Jones Dec 2020 #57

It is very common in English for one word LuvNewcastle Dec 2020 #9

I'm not so sure ... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #12

Yeah, those were some real wordsmiths. LuvNewcastle Dec 2020 #17

I, for one, do think they were real wordsmiths... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #23

This message was self-deleted by its author LuvNewcastle Dec 2020 #30

agree; there is no reason to automatically assign treestar Dec 2020 #79

Employing Occam's Razor... Cirque du So-What Dec 2020 #10

There are much more concrete examples.... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #14

That's just, like, your opinion, man Cirque du So-What Dec 2020 #16

Correct. That is my opinion... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #21

Occam's Razor again... Cirque du So-What Dec 2020 #31

He wouldn't be calling him a "runaway slave", he would be... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #34

You know what? Cirque du So-What Dec 2020 #43

Sorry for being so argumentative; you are correct... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #61

"I certainly didn't think it would start such a contentious discussion." cwydro Dec 2020 #67

I'm actually very surprised that Bugs is such... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #70

Oh my. cwydro Dec 2020 #74

I don't see any fierce defenses in place... LanternWaste Dec 2020 #80

Yes, I suppose this assessment assumes.. reACTIONary Dec 2020 #81

Presumes, not assumes... "well, we are all human." LanternWaste Dec 2020 #97

My hypothesis is based on... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #107

"The character Bugs Bunny is prone to malapropisms." SMC22307 Dec 2020 #108

a maroon is the mascot of Austin HS katusha Dec 2020 #13

In that case it refers to the color BainsBane Dec 2020 #20

a fugitive slave BainsBane Dec 2020 #18

seriously? This is what you are worried about? Takket Dec 2020 #22

I'm not very worried about it... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #26

Obviously, Bugs Bunny needs to be expurgated and Mel Blanc reviled. Sneederbunk Dec 2020 #24

I, for one, am a great admirer ... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #29

In Bug's context it's always a sucker or a fool - nothing about slavery lame54 Dec 2020 #25

I take it to be... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #40

What specifically leads you to "take it to be" a racial slur other than "a hunch?" LanternWaste Dec 2020 #98

A stretch I think... Happy Hoosier Dec 2020 #27

Bugs Bunny literally does blackface, does "Mammy" imitations, minstrel show songs greenjar_01 Dec 2020 #28

I think you are spot on... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #32

So you then looked into it, eh? What relevant and objective information came up LanternWaste Dec 2020 #99

I utterly reject your hypothesis. MicaelS Dec 2020 #33

I am definitly not trolling... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #36

+100 Celerity Dec 2020 #87

I do believe you are correct. LanternWaste Dec 2020 #101

A lot of the old Looney Tunes use language which is now really shunned... Rightly. RockRaven Dec 2020 #35

Thanks for your observations... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #37

Deliberately Flatbush, according to Mel Blanc. n/t Greybnk48 Dec 2020 #39

Thanks, I didn't know... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #41

Nope, nope, nope. Bullshit. A "maroon" is a dope, an idiot. Greybnk48 Dec 2020 #38

It is the word for a fugitive slave BainsBane Dec 2020 #44

It's Bugs Bunny speak for "moron". COLGATE4 Dec 2020 #42

This is the right answer. Mc Mike Dec 2020 #59

He also calls Fud, the mighty hunter, a Nimrod... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #62

Maybe the writer read the Bible, or at least made it to the Nimrod reference in... SMC22307 Dec 2020 #109

Given what I know about bible thumpers.... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #110

One of the most fun things I ever did was attend Seattle Symphony nolabear Dec 2020 #114

Good times! Even better than... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #115

+100000000000000000000000000000000 x 2 AmyStrange Dec 2020 #60

Absolutely, 100% this. Greybnk48 Dec 2020 #92

Where do they get this nonsense from???? COLGATE4 Dec 2020 #93

How about "MAGAroon"? Zorro Dec 2020 #45

This message was self-deleted by its author Tbear Dec 2020 #46

I believe the fancy word for that method in comedy is malapropisms..... KY_EnviroGuy Dec 2020 #48

malapropisms are when you use a correctly pronounced word but in the wrong context nt Celerity Dec 2020 #51

Thanks. Is there a word to describe the opposite? KY_EnviroGuy Dec 2020 #52

wilful mispronunciation (a hateful example is what the Rethugs do with Kamala Harris's name) Celerity Dec 2020 #55

Stump speech monologs... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #69

Thanks. TigressDem Dec 2020 #50

I'm not so sure that skinhead was right. Mister Ed Dec 2020 #58

At any rate, if someone takes an insult to heart when I meant no harm, I'd rather know. TigressDem Dec 2020 #83

2 points. Celerity Dec 2020 #53

Malise can explain better, I know this word from time in Jamaica... winstars Dec 2020 #54

I truly doubt there was any racist connotation. nt Progressive Jones Dec 2020 #56

Perhaps not. It would not be without precedent, however. nt reACTIONary Dec 2020 #63

Is anyone arguing it would be without precedent? LanternWaste Dec 2020 #103

I never associated the term "maroon" with racism until reading this thread. Consider this ... Earthshine2 Dec 2020 #65

Further background Celerity Dec 2020 #88

It's actually very simple: a maroon is a castaway or escapee from a ship nuxvomica Dec 2020 #66

Sorry but this is absurd and many have explained why to you repeatedly. honest.abe Dec 2020 #68

Absurdity is part of Bugs' appeal. Go with it. nt reACTIONary Dec 2020 #71

Here's another one to investigate: "ignoranimus" honest.abe Dec 2020 #76

I'm going to... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #89

.. honest.abe Dec 2020 #90

TOS, Brother, comment with care. nt. reACTIONary Dec 2020 #91

How so Brother?? honest.abe Dec 2020 #94

It was appropriate for the discussion, PatSeg Dec 2020 #96

I guess it wasn't directed at you. I have a different perspective. nt reACTIONary Dec 2020 #117

I didn't take it as directed at anyone PatSeg Dec 2020 #118

Ten bucks says you fail to see the irony in your having said that. nt, Part II LanternWaste Dec 2020 #104

Please explain. nt. reACTIONary Dec 2020 #112

Is Bugs goofing on 'Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay' a no-no, too? (n/t) SMC22307 Dec 2020 #111

Of course not.... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #113

+100 Celerity Dec 2020 #72

It's a racist term and one that is easily deniable, making it perfect for use in a minstrel-y WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2020 #75

It's not a racist term per se at all, & the Bugs Bunny usage has nothing to do with maroons in terms Celerity Dec 2020 #84

No what it really is, is shit-stirring. n/t MicaelS Dec 2020 #85

+100 Celerity Dec 2020 #86

Lol...nope. Iggo Dec 2020 #77

It can mean both things treestar Dec 2020 #78

... AmericanCanuck Dec 2020 #82

I'll go you one better COLGATE4 Dec 2020 #95

The Maroons of Jamaica malaise Dec 2020 #100

I am so glad someone finally brought this up. It is way more important than the stimulus package. marie999 Dec 2020 #102

It's a color to me and also a deliberate cartoon word meaning "moron." CTyankee Dec 2020 #105

Not Harvard... Chicago... reACTIONary Dec 2020 #116

Funny, I always think of Harvard's "crimson" as being maroon colored. CTyankee Dec 2020 #119

For me it's my High School mascot Texasgal Dec 2020 #106