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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.
Hey, Jackson, how come you splibs only smoke Kools? I don't know any of us white guys who do.
by jumblejim March 01, 2016
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May 21 Word of the Day
n. The birth name of somebody who has changed their name. Most commonly attributed to trans people, but can be attributed to any person who has changed their name. (sometimes written as two words: dead name)

v. 1. To call somebody by their deadname.
v. 2. To out somebody's deadname to the public.
Don't call her by her deadname. She hasn't gone by that name in years.
by Canola Yogurt September 16, 2014
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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.
Where are the splib bars? The splibs hang out in the "Hole".
by ceedee39 April 17, 2010
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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).
That splib band had a lot of soul; the gray dude couldn't keep up.
by Michael R. Harvey March 02, 2006
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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.
To describe a group of blacks you would simply say they were all splibs.
by DougW333 November 19, 2007
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6
An African-American who acts like a fool publicly.
Dammit, every time Keyshawn scores he has to act like a splib!
by Anonymous March 31, 2003
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