field nigger, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

field nigger n.

[SAmE field negro/nigger, a black slave who worked in the fields; slavery distinguished between the rougher, less refined field workers and those who worked as ‘house’ servants]

1. (W.I.) a term of abuse for a deferential black, who curries favour with whites [this use is a paradox, or an erroneous sense, since the usu. meanings are senses 2 and 3].

1996

Allsopp Dict. Carib. Eng. Usage.

2. (US black) working-class, street blacks, as opposed to black bourgeoisie.

1970		B. Seale Seize the Time 41: I don’t think Kenny Freeman liked us field niggers too much.
1974		R. Dennis Pimp for the Dead in Complete Hardman 711: He’d gone from feeling an equal with Hump down to feeling as if Hump thought he was a field spade.
1983		I.L. Allen Lang. of Ethnic Conflict 48: Occupational Stereotypes: field-hand [19th century or earlier. Also field-nigger].
2002		‘Touré’ Portable Promised Land (ms.) 151: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] House negro. Field nigga. Hood rat. Rude bwoy. Ghetto Celeb. Big Willie.

3. (US black) blacks from the rural, Southern states rather than the Northern cities.

1974		R. Dennis Working for the Man in Complete Hardman 999: ‘You know what a field nigger whorehouse is? [...] It’s the last step down. It’s where the busted-up ones, the ones with diseases and god knows what else, end up’.
1992		J. Mowry Way Past Cool 112: Hittin em after school today just maybe snapped his little mind. if them cocksuckin field niggers done it right!