Jim, noun

Origin:
U.S. EnglishShow more Probably U.S. English, perhaps elliptical for Jim Crow a Black man, originally from popular 19th century African-American ballad.
obsolescent, offensive
An insulting term for a Black African man; also used as a form of address; Jim Fish; John.
1878 H.A. Roche On Trek in Tvl 21Jim the Kafir, Sam the Coolie, or Tom the Little Oomfan, — all equally ‘Boys’.
1936 Williams & May I Am Black 80Do you think the white Baases care what your mother and father call you?...If you have no real name they will make one for you. Otherwise they will call you ‘Jim,’ or ‘boy!’
1952 H. Klein Land of Silver Mist 58I went with Radebe to the Inchcape Hall, the Bantu night club. We saw ‘Jim’ and ‘Mary’ of everyday life in evening dress on the ballroom floor.
1955 J.B. Shephard Land of Tikoloshe 76I don’t call him ‘Jim’ or ‘Boy’ but ‘Umteto’, his real name. That is polite.
1961 D. Bee Children of Yesterday 274‘What’s your name, Jim?’ he asked. ‘Johannes, Baas,’ the man said.
1963 B. Modisane Blame Me on Hist. (1986) 242The African has been reduced to a symbol which has to answer to labels like, Jim, John and boy.
1987 Frontline Mar. 10The Magistrate says: ‘Certainly, Mr Tshabalala.’ Mr Tshabalala. Those days there were no black Misters in the Magistrate’s Court. There were Jims and Jacks.
An insulting term for a Black African man; also used as a form of address; Jim Fish; John.
Derivatives:
Hence (nonce) Jim  transitive verb, to address (someone) as Jim.
1965 E. Mphahlele Down Second Ave 152I was ‘Jimmed’ and ‘boy-ed’ and ‘John-ed’ by whites.
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18781987

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Jim, v.

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obsolete or obsolescent
derogatory or offensive
Jewish, adjectiveadj. & nounn.Jim Fish, noun phrasen. phr.
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