Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a general ref. to any black person; thus ebony chick, ebony pidgeon, a black woman.

1837		Bell’s Life & Sporting Chron. 23 Apr. 3/5: Among the ‘Brums’ Preston was an immense card. His desire to vindicate the honour of his ‘ebony’ brthren.
1855		Boy’s Own Mag. I 55: And as for that ebony beauty [...] she intended to dance in an astonishing style.
1864		‘Edmund Kirke’ Down in Tennessee 71: Those of you who worship the ebony idol.
1865		Three Years among the Working Classes in the United States xii: These ebony chattels of yesterday have been taken under the brotherly care of a set of Christians, who profess to love them for their very blackness.
1877		Ouachita Teleg. (Monroe, LA) 5 Oct. 4/2: The ebony choristers responded with this quaint hymn, sung in the genuine plantation manner.
1899		in H.T Sampson Ghost Walks (1988) 193: The Georgia Minstrels and Cake Walkers beamed one broad comprehensive ebony smile.
1906		Wash. Times (DC) 5 Oct. 5/2: ‘Quit Dem Liver Lips!’ ‘Nigger, what yo’ smakin’ dem liver lips fo’ like yo’ was eatin’ chicken?’ inquired one ebony-hued prisoner of another.
1913		H.A. Franck Zone Policeman 88 112: I took leave of my ebony hostess.
1928		C. McKay Home to Harlem 28: That little ebony drummer, beloved of every cabaret lover in Harlem.
1932		C. McKay Gingertown 3: The fat little ebony drummer was the comic man of the show.
1971		A. Buzo Roy Murphy Show (1973) 108: This eminent ebony emigrant.
1992		J. Mowry Way Past Cool 25: She wondered who rode shotgun with the little street prince, some ebony airhead, or maybe a blond bubble-brain.
2001		Indep. Rev. 30 July 1: I keep getting these flashes on screen asking me if I’m interested in hot ebony chicks.