Talking About Words

Do You Know What Dope Means?

I always thought it was an insult — but apparently not

Image created by Jacquelyn Lynn using MockupShots

Recently I was listening to a podcast and heard the word dope used in a context that wasn’t familiar.

John Crossman was talking with Secily Wilson on his podcast, The Crossman Conversation. Answering a question about race, Secily said this about Black people:

“… quite frankly, we’re pretty darn dope.”

What?

I’ve always understood dope (as a noun) to refer to someone who is stupid. Or to illegal drugs, particularly marijuana or heroin. I guess I’m showing my age.

Those definitions didn’t at all fit the context of what Secily was saying. So I looked it up.

As an adjective, dope means excellent, cool, awesome, great.

To quote Secily, I think this definition of dope is pretty darn dope.

Here’s John Crossman’s article about his conversation with Secily: