Thug
A term for a violent or brutish criminal. Notably, the term thug originated in India to refer to organized gangs of professional robbers and murderers throughout the country in the early nineteenth century. However, over time, the term has developed into a stereotypical image placed upon Black people, particularly Black men. It reinforces negative, racial prolific perceptions of Black men as being naturally violent or defiant, while also justifying mass incarceration, police brutality, and racial discrimination. Not to mention, the thug stereotype also often fuels fear towards Black men at large, encouraging commonplace prejudicial practices such as:
- Clutching purses
- Locking car doors
- Avoiding elevators
- Surveillance in stores
Recall the words of the former president of the United States, Donald Trump, when referring to the (mainly Black) protestors in Minneapolis, Minnesota outraged by the death of George Floyd, an African-American man wrongly murdered by a police officer in 2020:
“...These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!”
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We are using capitalization to recognize a larger, interconnected community of Black people with its own cultural, historical, and social significance.