What is shuck n jive?

Question

what does this mean, exactly?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

"To shuck and jive" originally referred to the intentionally misleading words and actions that African-Americans would employ in order to deceive racist Euro-Americans in power, both during the period of slavery and afterwards. The expression was documented as being in wide usage in the 1920s, but may have originated much earlier.

"Shucking and jiving" was a tactic of both survival and resistance. A slave, for instance, could say eagerly, "Oh, yes, Master," and have no real intention to obey. Or an African-American man could pretend to be working hard at a task he was ordered to do, but might put up this pretense only when under observation. Both would be instances of "doin' the old shuck 'n jive."

Today, the expression has expanded somewhat from earlier usage, and is now sometimes used to mean "talking pure baloney," "goofing off," or "goofing around." The original meaning of deceit often remains, however.

Source(s):

I teach some African-American Studies courses.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Great answer! Thanks!

Answer 2

Messing around. Acting bafoonish. Playful foolishness.

Answer 3

bullshit conversation

Answer 4

Sounds like a dance routine to me. When i looked the up the word "shuck" in the dictionary it meant "an outer covering of something" and "jive" well thats a kind of dance.

Source(s):

"The 0xford Dictionary"