Mister Charlie

Or Mr. Charlie

noun

Older Slang: Usually Disparaging and Offensive.

1. a term used to refer to a white person.

2. a term used to refer to white people collectively.

Sensitive Note

See Chuck.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mister Charlie¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

He was there to discuss Baldwin’s play Blues for Mister Charlie, which would end up as the lead story for Funke’s weekly column in the drama section of the paper on June 2—further proof that anything Baldwin did was now newsworthy.

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In 1964, Mr. Moncur learned that the Actors Studio was looking to cast a musician for its Broadway production of James Baldwin’s civil rights drama “Blues for Mister Charlie.”

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His 1964 drama “Blues for Mister Charlie,” loosely based on the murder of Emmett Till, underwent a tumultuous rehearsal period, with its original producers demanding the same kind of softening that Childress faced down.

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James Baldwin once had separate entrances for black and white audiences for his 1964 play inspired by Emmett Till’s murder, “Blues for Mister Charlie.”

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He clashed with director Burgess Meredith and author James Baldwin during the New York run of Baldwin’s play Blues for Mister Charlie, and was let go from the London production for his “corrosive attitude.”

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