smoked Irishman

English

Etymology

From the joint low status of blacks and the Irish in Britain and the United States during the 19th century.

Noun

smoked Irishman (plural smoked Irishmen)

1. (derogatory, ethnic slur, dated) A black man.
   • 1969, Harper's Magazine: Volume 239:

     The smoked Irishmen — the colored (no one says black; few even say Negro) — represent change and instability, kids who cause trouble in school, who get treatment that your kids never got, that you never got.

   • 1972, John C. Livingston, Robert G. Thompson, The dissent of the governed: readings on the democratic process:

     "We get fairly good salaries, and this is a good neighborhood, one of the few good ones left. We have no smoked Irishmen around."

   • 2010, Loren Avey, The Pole Creek Crossing, page 214:

     When asked about his Irish name, and how he came by that, McCracken replied "I's smoked Irish, Judge, just another smoked Irishman."

Related terms

• smoked Irish