[paulat]

It's pretty stupid and pathetic to insult someone for not knowing every random antiquated racist term ever used. The only reason anybody in AZ remembers is that it was a feature word in one of Ev Mecham's many faux pas. Get off the high horse, your family history is nobody else's fault.

Actually, upon reflection, it was my family member that made me familiar with the "n"-word.

I did pick up "pickaninny" from "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The book was on my great-grandparents' shelf for decades.

It has been so misconstrued throughout the years. Even Abraham Lincoln knew its import. When he was introduced to Harriet Beecher Stowe, he said, "So you're the little lady who started this great big war."

Words from "Uncle Tom's Cabin" have had a HUGE role in our country's history. I'm sorry many don't know it.

[discostu]

"Uncle Tom's Cabin" had a huge impact on our history, individual words not so much. I don't think world history would have changed had that book not included "pickaninny", it's really the plot that did the work.