Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents my thoughts about the meaning of the nickname "Coonman" that was given to Ralph Northam (now Governor of Virginia) by some of his friends when he was in college in 1981.
This post also includes my speculation about the derivation of the nickname "coonman".
Some examples of online articles about Ralph Northam's "coonman" nickname that was recently found in his 1981 Virginia Military Institute (college) yearbook are also included in this post.
The Addendum to this post presents definitions for the word "coonman" as it refers to hunting racoons (which is a different definition for the nickname "coonman").
The Addendum of this post also presents an old racial definition for "coon" as well as contemporary racial definitions for "coon".
The content of this post is presented for etymology and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES [Revised January 6, 2019]
Here's my definition for the nickname "Coonman":
"Coonman" is a nickname for someone who acts like a coon ("coon" is a very offensive referent for Black people)- with or without blackface.
Even more than other nicknames, the race of the person receiving this nickname is important. With regard to "Coonman" as a nickname for Ralph Northam (now Governor of the state of Virginia, USA), my belief is that "Cooman" was jokingly given as a nickname to Northam to refer to a non-Black person who mocks Black people in front of their friends and other people who aren't Black (for instance, using exaggerated Black vernacular English and exaggeratedly mimicking African American dancing).
Although "coonman" is a very offensive referent, the very fact that the term was offensive probably made it more likely to be jokingly* used by Northam's college friends.
*Definition for "jokingly": "something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, as a witticism”...
-https://www.dictionary.com/browse/jokingly
Here's how I arrived at that definition as it pertains to its use by Ralph Northam:
1. The meaning "a person who hunts raccoons" is another definition for "coonman" which is only relevant to the definition given above in that "raccoon" is the source word for "coon" for both of these definitions.
2. The nickname "Coonman" derives from the racial slur "Coon". However, read #9 given below.
3. As a result of online searches, 1981 is the earliest documented date for the use of the nickname "Coonman". That nickname was one of two nicknames that are listed under the photograph of now Virginia Governor Ralph Northam in the Virginia Military Institute [college] yearbook for that year.
In defining the nickname "Coonman" and its use for non-Black people, it's important to note that while "coon" is an offensive referent for a Black person, Ralph Northam is White.
4. With the exception of a February 1, 2019 urbandictionary.com entry [more on that later], the only online references that I've found for "coonman" refer to Ralph Northam (i.e. the nickname listed under his photograph in his 1981 Virginia Military Institute yearbook and online articles/blog comments from Feb. 1, 2019 about that discovery).
I assume that Northam either gave that nickname (along with the nickname "Goose") to his college's yearbook committee to be placed under his photograph and name in that college yearbook, or that Northam otherwise knew that that nickname would appear under his name and photograph.
I don't believe that Northam would include a nickname for himself on that page that he considered insulted him.
5. The urbandictionary.com entry for "Coonman" as of this date [Feb. 4, 2019] "Someone who doesn't like black people" is the correct definition is the only entry for that term as of this date [Feb. 4, 2019]. Given that definition's publishing date of Feb. 1, 2019, I idafterdatef. Gon dicfor that term as it refers to Ralph Northam.
6. I don't think that "Coonman" meant "ni&&er" lover as I believe that some of Northam's friends (and probably Northam himself) would consider that an insult. If that were the meaning of "Coonman", my guess is that Northam wouldn't allow that nickname to be used for him and certainly wouldn't have given it to the yearbook committee to be placed under his name and photo.
7. I don't agree with the writers of various online articles who indicated that the nickname "coonman" that was given to Ralph Northam is a racial slur. "Coon" is a racial slur for Black people. The definition for racial slur doesn't fit the nickname "coonman" as it was used by some of Northam's friends. Instead of "Coonman" (as it was given as a nickname to Ralph Northam who is White) being a racial slur, I would call it a racial nickname. If a Black male was called "Coonman" the definition of that term would remain the same "A man who acts like a coon", but the term would then be a racial slur. However, there would be no need to use the term "Coonman" as "Coon" would suffice.
8. I think that Ralph Northam's friends called him "Coonman" in jest. As I noted earlier, Ralph Northam's nickname "Coonman" is the only example that I can find online for the nickname "coonman"- apart from the urbandictionary.com entry).
9. I wonder if the nickname "Coonman" was coined as a form of the referent "soul man". "Soul Man", a hit 1967 R&B song by Sam & Dave which was included in the 1980 hit movie "Blues Brothers". Note that Northam's nickname "coonman" was found in his 1981 college yearbook.
Dating from the 1960s, "soul" is a referent for Black people, i.e. "soul music"; "soul food", "soul brother"; soul sister". "Coon" is a very offensive referent for Black people and "soul" is a positive referent for Black people.
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cSyZY1dBpI a YouTube sound file of Sam & Dave performing "Soul Man". Here's an excerpt of that sound files summary:
""Soul Man", recorded by Sam & Dave (Samuel David Moore & Dave Prater) in 1967, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. ... This original version of the song has been recognized as one of the most influential songs of the past 50 years by the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone magazine, and RIAA Songs of the (20th)Century. "Soul Man" was awarded the 1968 Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental. Singers Sam & Dave helped to pave the way for the acceptance of soul music by white pop audiences helping define the genre. "Soul Man" later resurfaced as the keynote song in the 1980 American musical comedy film staring John Belushi and Dan Akroyd (a.k.a. The Blues Brothers) who performed the song.
-snip-
Italics added to highlight this sentence.
Note that John Belushi (deceased) was White and Dan Akroyd is White.
Also, read this excerpt of https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/12/the-blues-brothers-soul-man.html that documents the popularity of the 1980 Blues Brother's version of "Soul Man".
"While opening for comedian Steve Martin at the Universal Amphitheatre in 1978, the Blues Brothers recorded their debut album, Briefcase Full Of The Blues. This live recording, which captured the raw energy of the group far better than any studio recording could have done, proved to be a very wise decision, as the album shot up to #1 and spawned two Top 40 hits, with covers of the Isaac Hayes/Dave Porter penned "Soul Man" and the Chips' "Rubber Biscuit." ".
Addition: January 6, 2019
From https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/2/6/1832780/-Rant-Not-that-anyone-here-asked-after-all-I-am-only-one-black-man
"Rant: Not that anyone here asked...after all, I am only one black man..." published by Chitown Kev on February 06, 2019 · 2:48 PM EST
laverdure February 06 · 05:04:06 PM [comment]
"what’s worrisome is his nickname “Coonman”—seems to indicate he did blackface all the time—was known for it. That requires explaining. and likely resignation—"...
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URBAN DICTIONARY DEFINITION FOR "COONMAN"
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=coonman
"coonman
Someone who does not like black people.
"Yo, Coonman, you done beatin' on them negroes?"
by Billy J February 01, 2019
-snip-
This is the only definition for coonman that is found in this community submitted definition page. The February 1, 2019 date strongly implies that this word was added to urbandictionary.com because of the recent publicity about Ralph Northam's "coonman" nickname on his 1981 college Yearbook page.
As indicated above, I don't believe that this is the correct meaning for "coonman" as used it was as a nickname for Ralph Northam (now Governor of Virginia).
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EXCERPT FROM AN ONLINE ARTICLE ABOUT RALPH NORTHAM'S NICKNAME "COONMAN"
From https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6659393/Virginia-governor-Ralph-Northams-yearbook-page-shows-men-KKK-hood-blackface.html
"Virginia's late-abortion supporting Democrat governor Ralph Northam admits he WAS was one of two men who donned blackface and KKK robe for medical school yearbook photo - but refuses to resign
By KEITH GRIFFITH FOR DAILYMAIL.COM; PUBLISHED: 17:34 EST, 1 February 2019 | UPDATED: 11:05 EST, 2 February 2019
..."In another startling revelation, another photo emerged on Friday showing Northam in his 1981 undergraduate yearbook at the Virginia Military Institute.
The entry lists one of Northam's nicknames as 'Coonman'. The nickname seemingly refers to the racial epithet, but its meaning is unclear.
[...]
[A photo of] Northam is seen left in a 1981 VMI yearbook photo that lists his nickname as 'Coonman', and right in a 1984 yearbook photo from Eastern Virginia Medical School"...
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EXCERPT FROM A REPUBLICAN LEANING BLOG ABOUT RALPH NORTHAM'S COONMAN'S NICKNAME
From https://www.yourdictionary.com/racial-slur
2. ..."ethnic slurs (ethnophaulisms) [are words] that are, or have been, used as insinuations or allegations about members of a given ethnicity, or to refer to them in a derogatory (that is, critical or disrespectful), pejorative (disapproving or contemptuous), or otherwise insulting manner."...
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs
Note that Wikipedia's list of racial slurs (as of February 4, 2019) includes the word "coon" but doesn't include "coonman".
"Coon
(U.S., UK) a black person. Possibly from Portuguese barracão or Spanish barracón, a large building constructed to hold merchandise, where slaves were kept for sale, anglicised to barracoon (1837).[95][96] Popularized by the song "Zip Coon", played at Minstrel shows in the 1830s."...
-snip-
Read the Addendum below for more information about the racial slur "coon".
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SOME OTHER EXAMPLES OF ONLINE ARTICLES THAT REFER TO NORTHAM AS "COONMAN" AND REFER THAT NICKNAME AS A RACIAL SLUR OR POSSIBLE RACIAL SLUR
Here are some examples from a large number of online articles that refer to "Coonman" as being a racial slur, "sometimes a racial slur", "containing a racial slur" etc.
{These examples are given in no particular order, and are numbered for referencing purposes only; given without hyperlinks]
1. Virginia governor apologizes for 'racist and offensive' costume in photo ...
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/01/politics/northam-blackface-photo/index.html
Feb. 1, 2019 - Ralph Northam confirmed Friday he was in a racist yearbook photo showing ... of the names or the use of Coonman, which can be a racial slur.
2. Va. Gov. Ralph Northam Defies Calls To Resign, Doesn't Recall Being ...
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/02/.../va-governor-says-he-wont-resign-over-racist-photo
Feb 1, 2019 - "... listed the nickname "Coonman," a term sometimes used as a racial slur, ...
3. Governor Admits He Was in Racist Yearbook Photo - The New York ...
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/us/.../ralph-northam-yearbook-blackface.html
Feb 1, 2019 - ..." had been known as “Coonman” as an undergraduate student there. The governor has not addressed the nickname, which contains a racial slur.
4. https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/gov-northams-vmi-yearbook-photo-lists-racial-slur-as-a-nickname https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/gov-northams-vmi-yearbook-photo-lists-racial-slur-as-a-nickname
5. https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/gov-northams-vmi-yearbook-photo-lists-racial-slur-as-a-nickname https://www.wsls.com/news/virginia/gov-northams-vmi-yearbook-photo-lists-racial-slur-as-a-nickname
6. Gov. Northam's VMI yearbook photo lists racial slur as a nickname
A VMI yearbook shows a racial slur listed under a nickname for the governor
By Tommy Lopez - Weekend Anchor / Reporter
Posted: 10:29 AM, February 02, 2019
Updated: 10:29 AM, February 02, 201
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ADDENDUM #1: COMMENTS ABOUT THE TERM "COONMAN" MEANING "HUNTING RACOONS" (and more)
(with numbers added for referencing purposes only)
From https://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/coon/
"The Coon Caricature
The coon caricature is one of the most insulting of all anti-black caricatures. The name itself, an abbreviation of raccoon, is dehumanizing. As with Sambo, the coon was portrayed as a lazy, easily frightened, chronically idle, inarticulate, buffoon. The coon differed from the Sambo in subtle but important ways. Sambo was depicted as a perpetual child, not capable of living as an independent adult. The coon acted childish, but he was an adult; albeit a good-for-little adult. Sambo was portrayed as a loyal and contented servant. Indeed, Sambo was offered as a defense for slavery and segregation. How bad could these institutions have been, asked the racialists, if blacks were contented, even happy, being servants? The coon, although he often worked as a servant, was not happy with his status. He was, simply, too lazy or too cynical to attempt to change his lowly position. Also, by the 1900s, Sambo was identified with older, docile blacks who accepted Jim Crow laws and etiquette; whereas coons were increasingly identified with young, urban blacks who disrespected whites. Stated differently, the coon was a Sambo gone bad.
The prototypical movie coon was Stepin Fetchit, the slow-talking, slow-walking, self-demeaning nitwit. It took his character almost a minute to say: "I'se be catchin' ma feets nah, Boss." Donald Bogle (1994), a cinema historian, lambasted the coon, as played by Stepin Fetchit and others"...
2. contemporary definitions:
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=coon
"Coon
An insulting term used by both races.
When used by whites it translates to "ni&&er*".
When used by blacks its describing an uncle Rukus type character.
A black person who is ignorant to white discrimination and unknowingly suffers with self hatred.
A black man who only dates white women or only find white women attractive.
"Samuel L Jackson played a coon in the movie Django."
"Great! The only black news-caster for FOX didn't find anything wrong the white policeman only arresting the black kids in a group of black and white kids! What a coon!"
#ni&&er*#coon#uncle rukus#coonass#django"
by Tuttie504 September 02, 2015
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
It's important to note that this definition indicates that the word "coon" has different meanings depending on the race of the person using it.
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From https://www.quora.com/What-is-cooninghttps://www.quora.com/What-is-cooning
What is "cooning?"
"Cooning" is when a self-hating African-American plays the fool for a White audience in exchange for the limited social acceptance the latter are willing to give within their racial hierarchy. Black people who act this way are referred to as "coons" by other disgusted Blacks, who view the behavior as treacherous in nature.”…
-Muhammad Rasheed, Updated Nov 27, 2018
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