Code Switch

The Once And Future 'Karen'

Oct 6, 2021
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INSIGHT

Karen's behavior

  • "Karens" are white women who leverage their perceived victimhood to invoke authority.
  • This behavior, though newly named, has historical roots in maintaining racial hierarchies.
INSIGHT

Karen's origins

  • The term "Karen" descends from terms like "Miss Anne," used by Black people during the Jim Crow era.
  • These terms refer to white women exploiting their privilege to maintain racial order.
ANECDOTE

Black Jeopardy

  • Chadwick Boseman's "Black Jeopardy" skit popularized the term "Karen."
  • The skit humorously highlighted cultural differences in potato salad preferences.
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