trabajar como un negro

Spanish

Etymology

A compound phrase literally meaning "to work like a Black person."

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɾabaˌxaɾ ˌkomo un ˈneɡɾo/ [t̪ɾa.β̞aˌxaɾ ˌko.mo ũn ˈne.ɣ̞ɾo]
• Syllabification: tra‧ba‧jar co‧mo un ne‧gro

Verb

trabajar como un negro (first-person singular present trabajo como un negro, first-person singular preterite trabajé como un negro, past participle trabajado como un negro)

1. (simile, dated, derogatory, offensive, proscribed) to work like a dog; to work like a nailer; to slave away

Usage notes

This term is considered highly offensive and outdated because it stereotypes Black people as deserving of hard labor and unethical treatment. Virtually all Hispanic civil rights organizations have proscribed and condemned the usage of this phrase as a result.