Ofay

Ofay is a racial slur, a slang term for a white person. The term first appeared in print in the early 20th century, and may be older still. The word is probably now best known from Lorraine Hansberry's play "A Raisin in the Sun," where the character Beneatha declares "everything is strictly peachy keen, as the ofay kids say."
Origins
The word's origin is unclear. Two possible derivations point to the Atlantic slave trade and Nigeria. Among the possibilities are:

*During the 17th through 19th centuries, European traders established coastal ports in present-day Nigeria for their increasing traffic in slaves destined for the Americas. Thus, "Ofay" might derive from the Ibibio word "afia," which means "light-colored," and may have referred to European traders.
*"Ofay" might also come from the Yoruba word "ofe," spoken in hopes of disappearing from danger such as that posed by European traders.
*Another possible source of the word is the French "au fait" ("by the way" lit. "to the fact"), a phrase sometimes used in English, and sometimes facetiously used to describe a pompous person.
*According to the Henry Holt Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, ofay is pig latin for "foe."

Artist

Richard Feynman, the famous physicist, used the pseudonym Ofey for his artwork. He used this generic and anonymous term because he wanted his work to be evaluated honestly, rather than being treated as a novelty.
 
< Prev   Next >