An offensive slur for a person with dark skin; a derogatory term with a long history of use in racist contexts.
From 'dark' + '-y' (a diminutive suffix), this slur emerged in the 19th century and was used extensively in minstrel shows and racist discourse.
This word is a powerful reminder of how language crystallizes prejudice—diminutive suffixes that make things seem cute or small were weaponized to dehumanize people based on skin color.
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