Why is "sickle cell" a substitute for the "N" word?

Question

It's been used in the movie "Full Metal Jacket", and I looked it up; it seems to check out. Where did it originate from?

Answer 1

Both definitions below are taken right out of the dictionary. I really don't see the similarity there. The movie is now over 15 years old and was set during the vietnam war. So the usage could be as old as the 60s or older
. I can see how it could be used as an insult based on the reasons stated by Ashlee S. I have never heard it used however. Next time the movie comes on I will look for it and see how it is used.
It sounds like a cowards way of insulting someone. School yard tactics by an educated person.

sickle cell
–noun Pathology. an abnormal red blood cell having an elongated, crescentlike shape due to the presence of an abnormal hemoglobin.


***·ger /ˈnɪgər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[***-er] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
—Usage note The term ****** is now probably the most offensive word in English. Its degree of offensiveness has increased markedly in recent years, although it has been used in a derogatory manner since at least the Revolutionary War. Definitions 1a, 1b, and 2 represent meanings that are deeply disparaging and are used when the speaker deliberately wishes to cause great offense. Definition 1a, however, is sometimes used among African-Americans in a neutral or familiar way. Definition 3 is not normally considered disparaging—as in “The Irish are the ******* of Europe” from Roddy Doyle's The Commitments—but the other uses are considered contemptuous and hostile.

Answer 2

Hmmm. That's a new one. Must of missed it in Full metal Jacket. "Sickle cell". Why assume it's a substitute for the "N" word? Maybe it was a substitute for African or black? "Sickle cell" is associated more to occur in people of African descent, being that Africa was one of the places it originated from.

Answer 3

where the devil did you hear that? Well yuh learn something new everyday (I) Sickle cell was first seen in Africans and now thru blood transfusions and inter-marrying it has no boundries and is found in other races as well. The disease causes the red blood cells to have a sickle shape causing them to hook together and becoming very painful to pass from the larger bones into the blood stream.

Answer 4

That's interesting. I never heard that. But I imagine the connection is that sickle cell anemia is a disease more prevalent in blacks ... ?? I imagine you're saying this is used in a derogatory way...I'm not sure why/how that would be, but hopefully I've identified the basis of the connection, at least. Or maybe you already knew all of this?!

Answer 5

African-Americans are at a higher risk for certain blood disorders like hypertension and sickle-cell anemia. Not sure why, but there are lots of diseases or disorders that carry a higher risk in certain populations.

Answer 6

Just proves how low we have sunk as a people.