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Edwin Ashworth
Edwin Ashworth
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Why was "Spook" a slur used to refer to african americansAfrican Americans?

I understand that the word spook is a racial slur that rose in usage during ww2,WWII; I also know Germans called black gunners spookwaffeSpookwaffe. What I don't understand is why. why.

Spook seems to also mean 'ghost' in German. Did the Americans call them spooks because the Germans did? If so, why did the Germans call them that? Or, if the Germans called them that because Americans called them spooks, then why did the Americans call them that? And how did Americans know the Germans had a nickname for black gunners?

Why was "Spook" a slur used to refer to african americans?

I understand that the word spook is a racial slur that rose in usage during ww2, I also know Germans called black gunners spookwaffe. What I don't understand is why. Spook seems to also mean 'ghost' in German. Did the Americans call them spooks because the Germans did? If so, why did the Germans call them that? Or, if the Germans called them that because Americans called them spooks, then why did the Americans call them that? And how did Americans know the Germans had a nickname for black gunners?

Why was "Spook" a slur used to refer to African Americans?

I understand that the word spook is a racial slur that rose in usage during WWII; I also know Germans called black gunners Spookwaffe. What I don't understand is why.

Spook seems to also mean 'ghost' in German. Did the Americans call them spooks because the Germans did? If so, why did the Germans call them that? Or, if the Germans called them that because Americans called them spooks, then why did the Americans call them that? And how did Americans know the Germans had a nickname for black gunners?

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Heartspring
Heartspring
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I understand spookthat the word spook is a racial slur that rose in usage during ww2, I also know Germans called black gunners spookwaffespookwaffe. What I don't understand is why. SpookSpook seems to also mean ghost'ghost' in German. Did the Americans call them spooks because the Germans did? If so, why did the Germans call them that? Or, if the Germans called them that because Americans called them spooks, then why did the Americans call them that? And how did Americans know the Germans had a nickname for black gunners?

I understand spook is a racial slur that rose in usage during ww2, I also know Germans called black gunners spookwaffe. What I don't understand is why. Spook seems to also mean ghost in German. Did the Americans call them spooks because the Germans did? If so, why did the Germans call them that? Or, if the Germans called them that because Americans called them spooks, then why did the Americans call them that? And how did Americans know the Germans had a nickname for black gunners?

I understand that the word spook is a racial slur that rose in usage during ww2, I also know Germans called black gunners spookwaffe. What I don't understand is why. Spook seems to also mean 'ghost' in German. Did the Americans call them spooks because the Germans did? If so, why did the Germans call them that? Or, if the Germans called them that because Americans called them spooks, then why did the Americans call them that? And how did Americans know the Germans had a nickname for black gunners?

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Jon Pringle
Jon Pringle
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Why was "Spook" a slur used to refer to african americans?

I understand spook is a racial slur that rose in usage during ww2, I also know Germans called black gunners spookwaffe. What I don't understand is why. Spook seems to also mean ghost in German. Did the Americans call them spooks because the Germans did? If so, why did the Germans call them that? Or, if the Germans called them that because Americans called them spooks, then why did the Americans call them that? And how did Americans know the Germans had a nickname for black gunners?