Unpacking The Controversial Slogan: The True Origin And Meaning Of "Around Blacks, Never Relax"

The phrase "Around Blacks, Never Relax" is a deeply controversial and overtly racist slogan that has periodically surfaced in public discourse, primarily as a piece of anti-Black hate speech. As of late 2025, its continued existence highlights the persistent challenges of racial prejudice in both online and real-world environments, forcing a necessary, albeit uncomfortable, examination of its origins and impact.

This article provides an in-depth, current analysis of the phrase, tracing its roots from a racist caricature used in specific incidents to its modern role as a viral, yet toxic, internet meme. Understanding the context of "Around Blacks, Never Relax" is crucial for recognizing the mechanisms of digital hate and the psychological toll of anti-Black racism, often referred to as racial vigilance or Black fatigue.

The Disturbing Origin and Context of "Around Blacks, Never Relax"

The slogan "Around Blacks, Never Relax" is not a new creation but a modern manifestation of long-standing anti-Black racism and tropes. Its most prominent and documented appearances are linked to physical flyers featuring a racist caricature.

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The Racist Flyer and Campus Incidents

The phrase gained significant, high-profile attention in the mid-2010s when flyers bearing the slogan were distributed on university campuses. These flyers typically depicted a grotesque caricature of a Black person, often wielding a weapon or engaging in a threatening posture, designed to perpetuate a harmful stereotype of inherent criminality or danger.

A notable incident occurred at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin). The flyers appeared on campus the day after a tragic stabbing incident involving a man named Kendrix J. White. The timing was a deliberate and calculated act by the perpetrators to exploit a real-world tragedy and weaponize it for the purpose of spreading racial hatred and fear.

The use of the slogan in this context served as a clear piece of propaganda, aiming to generalize the actions of one individual to the entire Black community and foster an environment of hostility and racial profiling. This type of targeted hate speech is a common tactic used by extremist and neo-Nazi groups to sow discord.

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Analyzing the Phrase: From Hate Speech to Online Meme

While the phrase originated in physical propaganda, its longevity and widespread recognition are largely due to its adoption and circulation within certain corners of the internet. It has been documented as a racist meme on various platforms, including image boards and meme aggregation sites.

The Mechanism of Digital Propagation

The internet provides a powerful, often anonymous, vector for the spread of such toxic content. The phrase "Around Blacks, Never Relax" functions as a dog whistle and a viral shorthand for a racist ideology. Its circulation as a meme on platforms like 9GAG and Know Your Meme normalizes the sentiment among certain users, masking its hateful core under the guise of dark humor or edgy commentary.

The digital environment allows for rapid propagation, reaching a global audience and reinforcing existing biases. The phrase becomes a tool for online harassment, contributing to a hostile digital space for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals. This mechanism is a key area of study in understanding digital extremism and the spread of disinformation.

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The use of the phrase is a clear example of anti-Black sentiment that is deeply embedded in certain online subcultures. It is a stark reminder of how historical racist tropes are repackaged for modern consumption, targeting the African American population and other Black individuals globally.

The Real-World Impact: Racial Vigilance and Black Fatigue

The true significance of a phrase like "Around Blacks, Never Relax" lies not just in its offensive nature, but in the measurable psychological and physiological impact it has on the community it targets. It directly contributes to a state of being known as racial vigilance or Black fatigue.

Understanding Racial Vigilance

Racial vigilance is the constant state of hyper-awareness and guardedness that Black individuals must maintain in their daily lives due to the anticipation of experiencing racial discrimination, aggression, or violence. This is a direct, exhausting response to the underlying sentiment expressed by slogans like "Around Blacks, Never Relax."

• Chronic Stress: The need to constantly monitor one's environment and behavior to avoid conflict or negative assumptions creates chronic stress.
• Mental Health Toll: This constant state of alert is linked to significant mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and race-based traumatic stress.
• Physical Health Risks: Research indicates that this sustained stress, or allostatic load, contributes to higher rates of various physical health conditions among Black populations.

The Concept of Black Fatigue

Black fatigue describes the exhaustion that results from the daily burden of navigating a world permeated by systemic racism and microaggressions. It is the weariness born of "day-to-day small acts of aggression, or small acts of disrespect" that a Black person endures.

When a phrase like "Around Blacks, Never Relax" surfaces, it is not just an isolated comment; it is a public validation of the very prejudice that causes this fatigue. It forces individuals to internalize the threat, reinforcing the need for constant self-monitoring and emotional labor in spaces like the workplace, educational institutions, and public areas.

The existence and propagation of this racist slogan is a tangible example of the environmental stressor that contributes to these disparities. Addressing the phrase, therefore, is part of a larger conversation about racial equity, social justice, and the need to dismantle white supremacy in all its forms.

Conclusion: The Enduring Battle Against Anti-Black Sentiment

The phrase "Around Blacks, Never Relax" is a powerful and ugly reminder of the enduring presence of anti-Black racism. Its history, rooted in a racist caricature and weaponized during real-world tragedies like the UT Austin stabbing, demonstrates the malicious intent behind its use. Its continued life as an internet meme underscores the challenges of moderating hate speech in the digital age.

Ultimately, the slogan’s impact extends far beyond mere offense. It contributes directly to the societal conditions that necessitate racial vigilance, leading to significant and measurable health and mental health consequences for the Black community. A comprehensive understanding of this phrase is essential for anyone engaged in the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and for fostering a society free from the corrosive effects of prejudice and racial discrimination.