[Janet]

What is the derivation and history of the term ‘shine’ or ‘sunshine’ when used as a derogatory term in reference to a black person? I’m investigating a workplace racial harassment case in which a white person greeted a black person by saying, ‘What’s up, sunshine?’ The black person was offended.

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Name : Janet, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 58, City : Denver, State : CO, Country : United States, Occupation : investigator, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Will]

The term ‘shine’ orginated with the shoeshine business. A shine was a black person who shined shoes. Another term was ‘boot black.’ Perhaps the person did not hear the word ‘sun’ in the term. It’s really a play on words. To call a person a shine is to call them ‘boot black’ as in skin color. In the segregated days, to be called black was tantamount to being called a nigger or, worse yet, an African (because of the stereotypes prevalent in the ’30s and ’40s via the Tarzan movies). Also, in those days they had products that supposedly could ‘lighten’ the skin, thus adding to the fear and apprehension of being called ‘black.’

Also, many advertisers used blacks as images for their products, such as Aunt Jemima, Gold Dust washing powder and Niggerhead tobacco. The images were people black as night, with big lips and protruding eyeballs. Of course blacks did not wish to be associated with such images, so many called themselves colored or negro.

The term ‘shine’ is a throwback to those days when our image of us as a people was distorted, and it caused us great anguish and shame. Perhaps the person who felt insulted remembers the shame but probably not the reason he/she felt ashamed. I’m reminded of a song by James Brown called, ‘Down and Out in New York City.’ In it, one lyric goes, ‘Here’s a dime, boy, give me a shine, boy!’

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Name : Will, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Age : 45, City : West Los Angeles, State : CA, Country : United States, 

[Emet]

This is a term that has been frequently used in the United Kingdom, from the late ’30s/early ’40s up until today. Over here, it was considered very complimentary in the ’30s and ’40s when applied as a nickname to anyone – it implied someone who was inspiring/motivating. It now has become more liberally used (as opposed to with immediate family/close friends – as in the ’30s) and now implies gentle affection, as in buddy/pal. It is never (and to the best of my knowledge never has been) used as a derogatory term. My grandma used to call my mother Sunshine when singing to her to show how much she meant, and as a declaration of overwhelming maternal love, and as we are a line of Jews with very dark coloring, I don’t believe my grandma would have used this term if it had any racial conotations.

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Name : Emet, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Jewish, Religion : Jewish, Age : 32, City : London, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, Occupation : Businessperson, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Iteki21235]

In British English (as opposed to American English), the nickname ‘sunshine’ is not uncommon. It would be equivalent to saying ‘mate’ or ‘buddy.’ It might be worth thinking about if the person who said it is English, or from an area that speaks British English.

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Name : Iteki21235, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Lesbian, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 23, City : Stockholm, State : NA, Country : Sweden, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Lena22853]

I have never heard of ‘sunshine’ or ‘shine’ as a derogatory term for blacks. In a workplace, I would not sanction an employee who used this term, because it would be very easy for me to believe the employee honestly meant no offense. I think most people regard ‘sunshine’ as a term of affection or endearment or friendship, not something ugly.

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Name : Lena22853, Gender : F, City : New Orleans, State : LA, Country : United States, 

[SN27889]

Maybe you should also investigate the background of the famous song. ‘You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray…’ It’s ridiculous that sunshine would be derogatory.

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Name : SN27889, Race : Asian, Age : 31, City : New Delhi, State : NA, Country : India, Occupation : Sales Manager, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class, 

[Sandra]

Perhaps they were not commenting on their race, but their demeanor. If the person is constantly in a bad mood, sometimes calling them ‘sunshine’ could be construed as derogatory.

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Name : Sandra, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Religion : Taoist, Age : 39, City : Austin, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Trainer, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

[Floyd L.]

‘Sunshine’ is often used among blacks as a term of endearment for someone with a bright, ebullient and upbeat disposition. It is thus not seen as universally derogatory. ‘Shine’ in the mouths of whites here in the South is an insult. It derived from mocking the glossy, deeply darkened and sweating skin of a black who works outside. But it would be used by whites to insult in the same vain that such whites would use ‘nigger.’ It may occasionally be used by a black to label another black, but not as an overt insult. Blacks would be at best ambivalent about a white’s use of ‘sunshine’ becaue the white person may be just prettying up the onerous ‘shine.’

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Name : Floyd L., Gender : M, Age : 59, City : Memphis, State : TN, Country : United States, 

[Joe30635]

Have you had any luck? We just had an African American state that he was offended by a greeting of ‘how you doing Sunshine’? We have never heard this before. Was looking up on Google any possible references to this term as a deragotory term. Have you had any luck with your research?

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Name : Joe30635, City : East Moline, State : IL, Country : United States, 

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