House Negro

By Deane Barker • •

A slave in the antebellum South could be a “field negro” or a “house negro.” The former worked as a laborer in the fields, the latter worked as a servant in the house, and usually had an easier workload and better working conditions.

However, to work in the house, a slave had to be compliant and cooperative with their slaveowners. Defiant or combative slaves got sent out to the field.

So, a “house negro” is sometimes used as a pejorative to mean someone who has buckled or assimilated to their oppressors to ensure their own advantage.

Why I Looked It Up

I was walking in New York City behind a Black man dressed for work. We both passed by another Black man who was panhandling.

This exchange occurred:

Panhandling Man: [said something, I assume asking for money]

Working Man: [responded in some way, I assume rejecting the request]

Panhandling Man: “Fuck you! You house negros are part of the problem too!”

(Note: he did not use the word “negro.”)

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