Top definition
A non-derogatory word for black male, used by blacks and whites alike (even in mixed company), prevalent in the U.S. military in the 1960s and 1970s. As a member of the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, I heard it constantly and it was used and received with the same sort of attitude as one might use "dude" today, except for the distinguishing fact that it did indeed refer to race, without being racist.
by jumblejim March 01, 2016
Aug 9 Word of the Day
Large, beautiful breasts that are keep well consealed and initially appear to be much smaller and less impressive than they actually are until unleashed.
by KABT October 26, 2007
3
This is definitely not a derogatory reference to blacks. With the 3rdMarDiv on Okinawa in the 60s, it was used back and forth between blacks as well as between blacks and whites. If it were derogatory, I would have gotten my ass whupped many times. Beyond Okinawa, in VN and later in Yokosuka, the term was prevalent and used in a non-pejorative manner. The term splib was used to identify blacks or African Americans in a non-insulting way.
by ceedee39 April 17, 2010
4
At North Texas State University, 1964, splib was the common word for black African Americans used by the jazz crowd. Gray, or gray dude, referred to whites on a similar level. These were in common usage among many civil rights activists as well.
I did not perceive it as derogatory at the time, more a hip code-word among the jivers (those speaking jive-talk).
I did not perceive it as derogatory at the time, more a hip code-word among the jivers (those speaking jive-talk).
by Michael R. Harvey March 02, 2006
5
When I was a military brat in Germany in the 60s, splib was the accepted use for blacks, it was not derogatory at all. On the other side of the coin, 'chuck' indeed was the term for whites, and you even heard 'chuck white' to describe someone who was white.
by DougW333 November 19, 2007