Starting around 1990, roughly concurrent with the release of Spike Lee's seminal motion picture "MALCOLM X" and the dizzying successes of rap music stars, a t-shirt slogan started to appear which said; IT'S A BLACK THANG, Y'ALL, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND.
The word "thang", used in this context, was an Ebonicism used to refer specifically to a cultural meme or norm, which those who belonged to the special group-- in this case, African-Americans, would immediately recognize and understand... whilst those not belonging to this group (whites or non-blacks) would fail to understand, appreciate, or even recognize.
Thus, by extension, a "thang" is a folkway, meme, norm, predilection, code, shibboleth, artifact or behaviour exclusive to, or closely allied with, a particular sub-group of the larger populace.
The word "thang", used in this context, was an Ebonicism used to refer specifically to a cultural meme or norm, which those who belonged to the special group-- in this case, African-Americans, would immediately recognize and understand... whilst those not belonging to this group (whites or non-blacks) would fail to understand, appreciate, or even recognize.
Thus, by extension, a "thang" is a folkway, meme, norm, predilection, code, shibboleth, artifact or behaviour exclusive to, or closely allied with, a particular sub-group of the larger populace.
Upon entering a neighborhood bar traditionally frequented by the African-American community:
White wannabe-rapper: "Yo, what is up widdis? One jar at the end of the bar filled with pickled eggs and another one filled with pickled pig's feet? Yo, dass nasty!""
His Black buddy: "Man, it's a Black thang, you wouldn't understand."
Or, during a moment of treasured understanding:
Straight guy: "Would you mind please telling me what IS it with you gays and Barbra Streisand?
Gay guy: "Oh, I guess it's a Queer thang, you wouldn't understand."
Or, at a typical American High school:
High School Teacher A: "One of my students actually has a tattoo of a tiny black teardrop under his left eye! It's kinda creepy... What is THAT all about??"
High School Teacher B: "Yeah, well that's a Latino gang-banger thang. Supposedly it means they've offed someone."
White wannabe-rapper: "Yo, what is up widdis? One jar at the end of the bar filled with pickled eggs and another one filled with pickled pig's feet? Yo, dass nasty!""
His Black buddy: "Man, it's a Black thang, you wouldn't understand."
Or, during a moment of treasured understanding:
Straight guy: "Would you mind please telling me what IS it with you gays and Barbra Streisand?
Gay guy: "Oh, I guess it's a Queer thang, you wouldn't understand."
Or, at a typical American High school:
High School Teacher A: "One of my students actually has a tattoo of a tiny black teardrop under his left eye! It's kinda creepy... What is THAT all about??"
High School Teacher B: "Yeah, well that's a Latino gang-banger thang. Supposedly it means they've offed someone."
by david lincoln brooks August 11, 2007
Wheels , Rims , or the Combination thereof that support an autimobile , usually over 20 Inches in Diameter .
by Djimbe March 26, 2003
an attraction so strong that it is unable to be expressed, above and beyond swagger; you are unable to keep your eyes and/or hands off this person whenever they are around.
by fat tae June 1, 2009
I do my thang, I love myself
by ntshakhzmn December 3, 2018
by Hiporcyte25 March 25, 2010
"Now I'm gonna make you dance, get your chance. Yeah boy, shake that thang." (clean version) -Eminem, "Just Lose It"
by Michael Burmeister December 9, 2005