buck breaking

English

Etymology

buck (in derogatory US sense of a black man) + breaking (as in breaking a horse)

Noun

buck breaking (uncountable)

1. (offensive) The act of publicly punishing a male slave, typically by flogging him, and in some cases subsequently sexually assaulting or raping him in front of other slaves, in order to humiliate him. [from 21st century]
   • 2015, Mwalimu J. Shujaa, Kenya J. Shujaa, The SAGE Encyclopedia of African Cultural Heritage in North America:

     One example of this destructive process came in the form of “buck breaking.” This practice involved the breaking of the most masculine, rebellious, and/or influential of the enslaved Black males.

   • 2018, Rashad McCants, Plantation Education:

     Slaves were subject to a process called “buck breaking,” a method that was used by slave owners to strike fear in the observing slaves.

   • 2018, C. M. Fox, K. C. Dillon, Conversations of a Conscious Black Girl, page 16:

     As a means of breaking us psychologically, during slavery, white slave masters' implemented the “buck breaking” method.

   • 2021, Richard Shine, The Emmanuel 9:

     We are playing the devil's game without his infernal name in this good for nothing God forsaken buck breaking society.

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with break the buck.