Title: Why Is Coon An Ethnic Slur? - Blurtit
Headings: Why Is Coon An Ethnic Slur?
Why Is Coon An Ethnic Slur?
2 Answers
Answer Question

Content: In Australia it is a derogatory nickname for Aboriginal folks. The origin and meaning of the slur Coon is rather ambiguous. It is usually thought to be a diminutive form of the word raccoon, which is of course a small and ugly animal. Naturally to refer to people as 'raccoons', is very demeaning and dehumanizes them to a large extent. This is why coon is an ethnic slur. Some others believe that the word coon originated from the Portuguese word 'barracoos' which alludes to a building that was erected specifically to houses slave for sale. The term coon was popularized by a coon caricature. The coon was also depicted as lazy, perpetually frightened, idiotic and childish although he was a fully grown adult. Atothe K answered
I'm from the ARL (American Raccoon League). We find you characterization of raccoons as "small and ugly" to be demeaning and deraccoonizing.