This article discusses the use of racial slurs.
One of the Starlighters inBack to the Futureis called a “spook” by one of Biff Tannen’s friends, and although the term has meant several things through the decades, it’s used problematically within the scene. TheBack to the Futuremovieshave aged surprisingly well given their age, as many of the trilogy’s contemporaries often contain a handful of moments that have become a little uncomfortable to watch by today’s standards. Tannen’s friend choosing the word comes close to damaging the saga’s legacy, but there’s a good reason why it doesn’t.
Most of 1985’sBack to the Futureis set in the 1950s. As such, American culture looks a little different. Although later points in the saga are forced to make an educated guess about what the future might be like,Back to the Futuresurprisingly got several things right about the real 2015. In the scenes set in the 1950s, the franchise had the benefit of genuine history books to rely on to create a more authentic-feeling world, and seeing some of the attitudes in those sequences is one of theharsh realities of rewatchingBack to the Future.
“Spook” Has Historically Been Used As A Racial Slur
Back to the Future acknowledges the term being more commonly used in the 1950s
The word “spook” has several meanings. As well as being a synonym for “ghost,” it is also used as a slang term for a CIA operative. Unfortunately,Biff’s friend inBack to the Futureisn’t accusing anyone of being a government agent. In the 1950s, the word was often used as a racial slur to insult Black people. While it is still used in such a manner today, it is perhaps less commonly-heard than it has been in decades gone by. According toNPR, the word only started to be used in such a way during World War II.
A Deleted Back To The Future Scene Would Have Made The Movie Very Hard To Watch Today
Back to the Future has generally aged very well, but one deleted scene could have changed the reputation of the first movie in the trilogy.
Back to the Futureisn’t condoning the use of the term. In fact, the opposite is true. Biff’s friend is an antagonist in the movie, albeit a minor one. So, having him speak so unacceptably cements the status of Biff’s friend as a bad guy. Plus, using the slur also adds to the movie’s historical accuracy - time-traveling DeLorean notwithstanding. Just like in the modern day, racial slurs were an unfortunate part of the lexicon in the 1950s, so it arguably would have been disingenuous to leave them out, especially with an odious character like Biff’s friend.
Why Marvin Berry Responds With “Peckerwood” In Back To The Future
Marvin replies with another race-based insult
After the rest of the band emerges, Marvin replies with, “Who you calling ‘spook,’ peckerwood?” In short,Marvin is simply matching his adversary’s insult by offering a slur in return. “Peckerwood” is used as an offensive term for white people - more accurately, poor and racist white people. In other words, Marvin was calling him white trash. According toADL, the term “originated as an African American slang term for ‘woodpecker’ in the 1800s.” The word started being used offensively in the early 1900s, making it older than the use of “spook” inBack to the Future.
Back to the Future
Cast
Back to the Future follows teenager Marty McFly as he is inadvertently sent back to 1955, where he disrupts his parents' meeting. With the assistance of eccentric inventor Doc Brown, Marty must restore the timeline by ensuring his parents fall in love and find a way back to 1985.
