why are Italians sometimes called "guineas" as derogatory term? Where does this come from?

Answer 1

According to the Urban Dictionary (a great reference for origins of slang words):
"The most vile racial slur that can be used against an Italian-American. Refers to the Guinea Coast of Africa; using this slur is a very offensive way of implying that Italian-Americans are non-whites (something we tend to get very defensive about!!).

Unlike the "N-word", which African-Americans sometimes use to address each other, no Italian-American would ever address another Italian-American using this word. Nor would they use the word "wop" (also offensive, but not in a racial way). HOWEVER, it IS common for Italian-Americans to refer to each other as "dago"; this is used the same way that blacks use the N-word with each other."

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=guinea

Capisce?

Answer 2

Good question. My Italian grandmother told me they used to go into the country and buy guinea pigs to eat. I suspect that's how the rodents got their name, but it doesn't explain the guinea-Italian connection.

Answer 3

i wondered that too, after Jack Woltz spits out "Dago, guinea wop goombah" in the godfather, and then Kraut-knick for german-irish... knick?

Answer 4

never heard that one, though they are often called waps or wops, however you would spell it, and i dont know where that comes from either.

Answer 5

Yo, sucka! You stole my AVITAR!!! Gimmy it back!