What is the origin of the expression, "that's mighty white of you"?

Answer 1

Play the white man is a term used in parts of England meaning to be decent and trustworthy in one's actions. The term is considered by some to be derogatory against non-white people because they believe it carries the implication that they are indecent or untrustworthy. Originating in colonial England, the term is losing popularity in common parlance.

A similar expression in the United States is "That's mighty white of you", meaning, "Thank you for being fair", although it has come to be used ironically, particularly by African-Americans.

The term "play", in African American slang, can sometimes mean "cheat" or "swindle", and "the white man" is often a reference by minorities for the historical collective oppression of Caucasians upon non-Caucasians. Thus if used by non-whites, the term "play the white man" may carry a connotation of "cheat the oppressor".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_the_white_man

b : of, relating to, characteristic of, or consisting of white people or their culture c [from the former stereotypical association of good character with northern European descent] : marked by upright fairness
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/white

Answer 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_the_white_man

Folks, the "wikipedia" stuff is not always academic, seldom double checked and never peer reviewed.

The quote is racist.

It has no history worth noting. It crawled into our language from America. After the turn of the century.

It is well, like so many other racist phrases, junk.

However "mighty white" existed before all and actually never had a racial context and when it did. It just ment "very white" like clouds, snow, the White Nile River, etc.

Whatever: it was used by anti-slavers in some literature and then crawled into the phrase that should die.

Thanks...

Hey, it is good, fine and helpful to assist folks but "wiki" has a few issues.

I know.

I do "quote" research for BBC4.

Answer 3

It's from a Clint Eastwood movie.

Answer 4

It is enough to make a trained man spit blood