Funny that was mentioned.  I was about to respond b/c I'd asked myself the
same question except for a bit of a different reason.  I live in KY & I'd
always heard the term "nigger-rig" up until a few years ago.  Even people that
were racist said it - I said it.  I looked up jury-rig when I first stumbled
upon it to see if there was any relation.  Anyway, I found basically the same
thing Terry Kay did with this ask jeeves answer, so I'd recommend that
explanation.

  -Andrew

John Rodgers <jhrodgers@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
> At the risk of creating an uproar and being politically incorrect, I
> will tell you there is a term that has been used related to "rigging",
> and that is "nigger-rigging". It implys an improper way to make things
> work, with the outcome being less than desired. The expression was/is
> used even today, particularly in the Deep South.  To me personally it is
> vile, offensive, and disparaging of a people who have carried a great
> burden in this country. But none-the-less, it is still in use.
> Fortunately, it's common use is dying out.
> 
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver

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