Y’all, this was an expression we used in North Carolina when I was growing up;  e.g. "I haven’t seen her in a coon’s age!"
I recently used the term as above and was told it was racist. This was quite a shock! I thought the expression referred to a raccoon and meant something like "10 years or so " (i.e. the lifespan of a raccoon).
Any ideas on this? Thanks! Bob

Bob, the answer I am about to give is not meant to be a tongue-in-cheek, thoughtless response, but it is simple nonetheless.

I never heard that expression as racist in any way (I grew up in NC, too, and live here even now).  Unfortunately, people can take almost any expression and turn it into something sordid or offensive—if at least to themselves.

If enough people accept and perpetuate the sordid/offensive meaning, then what does the word or expression really mean?

So it goes back to the old saying: "Know your audience."

-Tim

i agree with tim, except that, growing up in alabama, i was aware of the racist connotation of the term.  

on a more official note, the OED says:

a coon’s age: emphatic for "a long time".

it was first seen in print in 1844.

apparently, early on, "coon" could refer to a "sly, knowing fellow."  the first published use of this meaning was in 1832.  thirty years later, it was first employed as  derogatory slang for "negro."

as for whether to use it…it definitely depends on your company.  i am certainly known to toe the line when it comes to appropriateness, but i wouldn’t use it in most circles.  as a matter of fact, i’d only use it with some of my best friends who KNOW i’m not a racist.  and usually, if i have to put that much thought into something, i just don’t do it at all!

hope this helps.

david

coon’s age

Sitran

It was just about a year ago that I joined.  So even with my infrequent absences, I have posted about 100 posts a month!  At that rate it will take me 8 more months to reach 2000.  This is #1199.

Sitran

Brings to mind one’s coonass heritage
www.coonass.com