I'm writing up an 'Agent' archetype for my next game supplement, so players can take on the role of a government spy (where the government is mostly privatized and under the thumb of the mega-corps). I'd prefer to call the archetype 'Spook' - which is a colloquialism for a spy - but it's also an old derogatory slur for a black person.

I know there are plenty of forum-goers here from all over the US and world. Has anyone ever heard 'spook' spoken as a slur? Has that gone out of fashion as derogatory?

(Side note: in its current rough layout, the supplement has several black character models. I also have a good black model for the 'Agent' but I wouldn't feel comfortable using his image if I do go with 'Spook' for the archetype name.)

Thoughts?

When I hear that word, the image of a CIA operative comes to mind.

Too soon to call a spy a spook? No.  Lot of people won't even know about the slur these days.

Call a black spy a spook, the SJW's will be coming for you.

If you present it in the context of a spy, I doubt hardly anyone would bat an eye and you'd be good.  Have a picture of a black person next to it?  Then you're asking for trouble.

Never heard of it used as a slur. Shit, we had a long-running series here called Spooks about the intelligence service.

"Spooks" was the name of a British TV series about agents from MI-5. (There is also an upcoming British movie with the same name.) When the show was aired in the US it was retitled MI-5. Spook is not a slur I've heard since the early 1970s. It seems to have gone out of fashion. On the other hand I've heard spook = spy more recently and more frequently, to the point that avoidance of the slur as the reason for the retitling of the show hadn't occurred to me until you raised your question. Given the number of other colloquialisms for spy and the chance for confusion or offense, I'd go with a different name in the US.

Only time I've heard it as a racial slur was in Gran Torino. I'd say it's perfectly safe to use in an espionage context.

Without further context the word alone makes me think of ghosts... 'Spooks Run Wild'... and spies.
Even as slang for black people it never seemed all that derogatory compared to other terms. The old Eerie comix had a supernatural black hero called The Spook who I remember as being pretty cool.

I've never heard that used as a derrogatory racist term. Is it regional maybe? Not that I'm up on all the latest KKK slang.

Quote from: Premier;803503Only time I've heard it as a racial slur was in Gran Torino. I'd say it's perfectly safe to use in an espionage context.

I was about to mention this! The kid Eastwood used it on had no idea what Eastwood was saying. Like "Why is this old geezer calling me a spy?" I'd say it's perfectly safe to use when referring to a spy.

-clash

Most folks, other than us graybeards, will not know of that usage, so it should be fine (albeit archaic in either form).

Quote from: Mark Plemmons;803492I'd prefer to call the archetype 'Spook' - which is a colloquialism for a spy - but it's also an old derogatory slur for a black person.

I never knew that.

I think you'll be fine.

Quote from: cranebump;803515Most folks, other than us graybeards, will not know of that usage, so it should be fine (albeit archaic in either form).

Kids these days, they don't know nothin.


Hey you damn kids, get off my lawn!

I don't think I've ever heard/read the term outside of movies and books... I can't recall anyone in real life using it. It doesn't come up in the old Richard Prior/Chevy Chase slur-off.

Yep, it is not used as a racial slur anymore. And even when it was in use it was shortlived far as I can tell.

Now it is used very commonly to refer to Spys and government agents. Government Spook gets used ALOT in all sorts of media.

And of course used to refer to ghosts. It is a Dutch word for Ghost I am told. Or derived from. Been a long time.