Haint Blue

[apl68]

I've always assumed it was a variation on "haunt."  About the only person I've ever actually heard use "haint" is an uncle who referred to a high-performance motorcycle as "running like a haint."

[Economizer]

In my vast southern multicultural experience, I understand that haint was a personification through the use of the word haunt to depict ghosts or spooks verbally. It was used commonly in the poorer African-American cultures in the Southeastern U.S.

[EdnaMode]

I thought perhaps haint blue had to do with the (typically) cobalt blue of the bottles used on the bottle trees. These are meant to trap the haints and keep your home safe. Or at least that is what I was taught.

[Catherder]

This just showed up:

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/what-the-color-haint-blue-means-to-the-descendants-of-enslaved-africans?utm_source=pocket-newtab

[mamselle]

Wow. Like they'd been reading this thread, or something....

M.

[hmaria1609]

Wow. Like they'd been reading this thread, or something....

M.

Saw the same thing here!

[mamselle]

And, speaking of woad, as we were, earlier...

   https://boingboing.net/2020/08/24/watercolor-paint-made-from-woa.html/amp

M.

[nebo113]

This just showed up:

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/what-the-color-haint-blue-means-to-the-descendants-of-enslaved-africans?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Thanks for the link.  Unfortunately, it does not reference original sources as to the origins of the term.  I am trying to move beyond the "we-all-know-it" sources.

[Catherder]

Could you contact the author, Shoshi Parks?  I looked her up and she does have a doctorate in archaeology/anthropology. 

Try shoshiparks@gmail.com

[nebo113]

Could you contact the author, Shoshi Parks?  I looked her up and she does have a doctorate in archaeology/anthropology. 

Try shoshiparks@gmail.com

Thanks.

[The Future]

Did you ever get a reference source for this?  Back in the Fall, I went to USC-Beaufort (in Beaufort SC) Library to look through their reference collection for an answer.  I did not find it in art reference books, nor local history reference books.   The color and history was mentioned in a lot of books, but no official source on etymology. 

[nebo113]

Did you ever get a reference source for this?  Back in the Fall, I went to USC-Beaufort (in Beaufort SC) Library to look through their reference collection for an answer.  I did not find it in art reference books, nor local history reference books.   The color and history was mentioned in a lot of books, but no official source on etymology.

PMing you.

[mahagonny]

Haint whatcha do. it's the way how you do it.

[mamselle]

Partly right.

Depending on whether you're thinking of Ella's version:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8fCXNTCWig

or the one Frankie Manning usually danced the Shim-Sham to:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhnNhr1spoM

That was one possibly rendering.

The band in the second one sings the lyrics, using the 'h' both for 'hain't' and 'hatcha'--so, not watcha, just to be pedantic about it.)

Frankie was in his 90s in this video, that's his son Chazz Young dancing with him.

There was also a global video of the shim-sham, in honor of his 95th birthday, here:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTFh_Ty6YcE

He died just shortly before the celebration; this is a tribute to him:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m34eD21QzUw

M.

[nebo113]

Partly right.

Depending on whether you're thinking of Ella's version:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8fCXNTCWig

or the one Frankie Manning usually danced the Shim-Sham to:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhnNhr1spoM

That was one possibly rendering.

The band in the second one sings the lyrics, using the 'h' both for 'hain't' and 'hatcha'--so, not watcha, just to be pedantic about it.)

Frankie was in his 90s in this video, that's his son Chazz Young dancing with him.

There was also a global video of the shim-sham, in honor of his 95th birthday, here:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTFh_Ty6YcE

He died just shortly before the celebration; this is a tribute to him:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m34eD21QzUw

M.

Oh my goodness.  Never seen the Shim Sham.  Michael Jackson's Moonwalk is robotic by comparison!