dago
derogatory term for an Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese person
Polack
derogatory term for a Polish person
beaner
derogatory term for a Mexican person
zipperhead
derogatory term for an Asian person
superstitious
having mythical/unfounded beliefs
chink
derogatory term for a Chinese person
nip
derogatory term for a Japanese person
gook
derogatory term for a person of Philippine, Korean, or Vietnamese ancestry
goon
term for a thug
spectacle
something that is visually striking
Gran Torino
named after the Italian city of Turin (Torino), a model of Ford "muscle car" produced in the 1970s
Michigan
northern US state bordered by several Great Lakes
Hmong
a traditionally mountain-dwelling people living in Southeast Asia, many of whom moved to the US in the twentieth century; language spoken by the Hmong people
Zippo
brand of refillable cigarette lighter with hinged top
spook
derogatory term for a Black person
hard-nosed
tough-minded
Vietnam War
multi-decade war between US-backed South Vietnam and Communist North Vietnam ending with North Vietnamese victory in 1975
Korean War
1950–53 war between North and South Korea with UN troops and US forces invading North Korea and China intervening on behalf of the North
hag
derogatory term for an old woman; a witch
dimwit
a stupid person
