I Am Not a Spook

Black text on an orange background

The phrase "I am not a spook" is most widely attributed to Ralph Ellison's 1952 novel Invisible Man. In the prologue, the narrator declares, "I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids—and I might even be said to possess a mind." 

This line underscores the narrator's assertion of his humanity and individuality, rejecting the dehumanizing stereotypes imposed upon Black individuals.

The button itself likely emerged in the 1970s during a period when Halloween-themed buttons gained popularity. Its playful design and message suggest a humorous take on the term "spook," which colloquially refers to a ghost or phantom. However, the term "spook" also carries a derogatory connotation when used to refer to Black individuals, dating back to the 1940s. In this context, the button may serve as a tongue-in-cheek response to such racial slurs, reclaiming the term with a sense of irony and empowerment.