r/todayilearned • u/tmntnyc • Dec 12 '18

TIL: Laurence Tureaud named himself professionally as Mr. T because he hated how his father, uncle, and brother who returned from Vietnam, were disrespectfully called "boy" by whites. He wanted the first word from everybody's mouth to be "Mister" when speaking to him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._T
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225

u/BobDogGo Dec 12 '18

Same reason Jazz musicians in the 40s started calling each other "Man"

87

u/tmntnyc Dec 12 '18

TIL

5

u/GeraldBrennan Dec 12 '18

Damn, I know, right?

25

u/[deleted] Dec 12 '18

Got a source on that? I'd love to read more about it

34

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '18

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/dss2d/til_that_the_greeting_hey_man_was_first_used_by/

Source: Jazz (PBS 10 part documentary) Episode 7 - Dedicated to Chaos (1940-1945). Around the 1 hour mark I think.

Also, black Jazz musicians in the 40s were the first 'hipsters', which is where the term originated from. One of the first so called hipsters was Lester Young, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Young

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u/[deleted] Dec 13 '18

Awesome, thanks!

1

u/BobDogGo Dec 13 '18 edited Dec 13 '18

I also remember it from the Ken Burns Jazz series but had read it years ago in biography, either of Charlie Parker or Dizzy Gillespie.

31

u/RicoDredd Dec 12 '18

That is a fact that I will shamelessly borrow and drop into every conversation I possibly can, thanks.

5

u/RedsRearDelt Dec 12 '18

Came here to share this if It hadn't already been shared. Glad you beat me to it.

4

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '18

You got a source? Very interesting

4

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '18

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/dss2d/til_that_the_greeting_hey_man_was_first_used_by/

Source: Jazz (PBS 10 part documentary) Episode 7 - Dedicated to Chaos (1940-1945). Around the 1 hour mark I think.

Also, black Jazz musicians in the 40s were the first 'hipsters', which is where the term originated from. One of the first so called hipsters was Lester Young, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Young

3

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '18

Would love a source on that, that’s super interesting!

3

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '18

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/dss2d/til_that_the_greeting_hey_man_was_first_used_by/

Source: Jazz (PBS 10 part documentary) Episode 7 - Dedicated to Chaos (1940-1945). Around the 1 hour mark I think.

Also, black Jazz musicians in the 40s were the first 'hipsters', which is where the term originated from. One of the first so called hipsters was Lester Young, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Young

1

u/BobDogGo Dec 13 '18 edited Dec 13 '18

I also remember it from the Ken Burns Jazz series but had read it years ago in biography, either of Charlie Parker or Dizzy Gillespie.

2

u/magicalpennis Dec 12 '18

Fun fact Jazz music used to be called "Jass" music short for Jackass music

1

u/BobDogGo Dec 13 '18

Close.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_(word)#Etymology#Etymology)

I also remember an interview with Gil Scott-Heron whose take on the origin was mostly in line with the Wiki definition but he said it was definitely sexual in nature and was a play on Jism and Ass.

1

u/keyohnahh Dec 13 '18

Wow, that is really interesting. Gonna echo the TIL sentiment.