Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a derog. term describing dark-complexioned black people; thus charcoal blossom, a young black woman; charcoal lily, a very dark black boy; charcoal bandit, a black criminal.

[1864		in T.P. Lowry Stories the Soldiers Wouldn’t Tell (1994) 37: We see once and a while a woman but of the charcoal complection and my cock don’t raise at them].
1898		Irving Jones ‘Ev’rybody Have a Good Time’ 🎵 I went down to a house rent jamboree, such a lot of charcoal coon I never did see.
1900		E.H. Babbitt ‘College Words and Phrases’ in DN II:i 26: charcoal blossom, n. A young negress. [...] charcoal-lily, n. A boy very dark in color.
1901		Courier (Lincoln, NE) 16 Mar. 10/1: The list comprises a couple of clinging coon songs, ‘My Charcoal Charmer’ etc.
1909		N.Z. Truth 16 Jan. 6/1: His charcoal opponent was lumbering heavily.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).
1971		R.D. Pharr S.R.O. (1998) 182: ‘All charcoal girls lie,’ Charlie said [...] ‘you gotta buy some bleach cream or she’ll lie you outa house and home’.
1983		I.L. Allen Lang. of Ethnic Conflict 46: Color Allusions, Other than ‘Black’ and ‘Negro’: charcoal; charcoal-blossom [fem. Also charcoal-lily].
1999		(con. 1979–80) A. Wheatle Brixton Rock (2004) 142: Flord could hear one of the officers grunt [...] ‘The charcoal bandits have fucking disappeared.’.