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Although currently used as a racial slur, it was originally a shortened form of "Barracoon," a word first used in the 1800's mostly in the Louisiana Territory and French colonial Africa for a place where slaves, indentured servants, and convicts were kept, usually for temporary purposes such as while being transported. It comes from the Spanish word barracón, (or barracara, the word for hut in Catalan). People took off the "barra" and the "coon" slur was born.

The word barracoon may have been first used formally in a legal case by John Quincy Adams in the case before the Supreme Court known as "The United States vs The Amistad" (like in the movie), which was argued in February and March of 1841.

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13y ago

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