"Reggin" and other code words

America's racism has evolved from overt lynchings and hate crimes to more subtle code words and acts. This article explores the phenomenon:

Coded prejudice is cloaked dagger

Subtle slurs still shock, humiliate targets; federal officials see increase in complaintsTomeika Broussard thought it was so absurd when she overheard her supervisor refer to her as a "reggin" that she just laughed. Then she realized it was the n-word spelled backward.

The only African-American in the small medical clinic in Los Gatos, Calif., Broussard said she was subjected to racial slurs almost daily. They were not the overt ones that most people would immediately recognize, but rather subtle, surreptitious code words that sometimes take a while to figure out.

"When 'reggin' came up, I'd never heard that word but I knew it was negative. So I had this kind of nervous, shocked laugh," said Broussard, 31, who was awarded $44,000 in damages last year in a racial harassment lawsuit filed after she was fired from her job as a file clerk. "I didn't know whether it was illegal, but I knew it was not OK. It was humiliating."

Federal officials say they have seen an increase in harassment complaints involving coded words and images in the workplace. Whether it is geared toward racial groups, religious affiliations, sex or sexual orientation, code words have proliferated in recent years through the Internet, where Web sites provide forums for creating, discussing and spreading new words promoting intolerance.Evidence of ongoing prejudice:Overt cases on code words

Boss' comments: In May 2006, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission settled a hostile work environment case against a Florida furniture store chain where a manager allegedly made racially and sexually offensive remarks to a black employee, referred to the African-Americans as "you people" and interracial couples as "Oreos" or "Zebras," and disparaged the worker for marrying a Caucasian man.

American Indians targeted: In November 2004, the EEOC settled a case against an upstate New York computer parts manufacturer where American Indians employees were subjected to frequent name-calling, war whoops and other derogatory statements referring to being "on the warpath" and to scalping, alcohol abuse and living in tepees.

Insults, denied opportunities: In March 2007, MBNA America agreed to pay $147,000 to settle a Title VII lawsuit alleging discrimination and harassment based on race and national origin. According to the lawsuit, an Asian Indian employee was subjected to ethnic taunts, such as being called "dot-head" and "Osama bin Laden," was assaulted by a co-worker with a learning disability who believed he was bin Laden's brother, and was denied training and promotional opportunities afforded his white co-workers.Comment:  I bet Indians are still called things like "Chief," "Geronimo," or "Tonto" often. And the whole mascot debate is an attempt to keep Indians in their place. "We're honoring you. Now shut up and enjoy it."

For more on the subject, see Highlights of the US Report to the UN on Racism.