What exactly is a “racist dogwhistle”?

Question

What exactly is a “racist dogwhistle”?

In: 3987

Answer 1

In addition to what other people have said, it’s called a “dog whistle” because dogs can hear higher pitched sound than most humans, so a dog whistle, a whistle whose purpose it is to command a dog, is largely inaudible to humans while still able to be heard by dogs.

So it’s a “racist dog whistle” because it’s inaudible to most people while still being heard loud and clear by racists.

I hope that context makes it make a bit more sense why coded language that sound innocuous unless you’re in the know but is actually racist is called a “dog whistle”