Thug has recently taken on a negative, racially charged meaning. To me it always meant the guys Batman beat up before he got to the Joker. Can this be reconciled or does the term thug need to leave the comic book lexicon as our language evolves?
It’s an interesting situation. I don’t think that’s the case right now, I think someone can still say “thug” and refer to a couple of guys (of any race) who are going to rough up a shop keeper because he’s late with his protection money.
The problem comes when men of color, generally black men have the gall of being even slightly aggressive in the media, they are labeled “thugs” to discredit them, to make it seem that whatever energy, or anger, or physicality they’re displaying is uncalled for.
Eventually the word thug may become a slur, (honestly it may already be and I just haven’t noticed), but I don’t think it’s quite there now. It’s mostly a social cliche that white people use to reinforce the status quo, kind of like referring to Asian women as doll-like; it’s offensive when used in that context, but dolls don’t have a negative connotation.
That’s how I see it anyway.