racooning
verb \ ˈrā-ˌkü-niŋ \ (also spelled raccooning)
Definition of racooning
slang, derogatory, chiefly used by people of color
1. To engage in behavior that aligns with white supremacist,
conservative, or racially oppressive ideologies, especially for personal gain, status, or perceived safety, at the expense of
one’s own racial or cultural community.
Often involves disavowing or undermining the struggles of people of color, and adopting rhetoric or actions that reinforce dominant
white societal norms.
Examples:
• He’s been racooning on social media, bashing movements for racial
justice just to impress his right-wing followers.
• The actress was accused of racooning after defending discriminatory policies while claiming to speak for her community.
Related forms:
racooner noun — a person who engages in racooning
racoonish adjective — characteristic of racooning behavior
racoonery noun — the
act or practice of racooning
Etymology:
A blend of the word raccoon—a historically racialized slur in some contexts when referring to Black individuals—and cooning, itself a derogatory term rooted in minstrel imagery. The term “racooning” is a reclaimed, pointed form of cultural critique, used within communities of color to identify perceived betrayal for
white approval or proximity to
power.
