Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) a black tramp.

1899		J. Flynt Tramping with Tramps 108: ‘Hoboes,’ which is the general technical term among white tramps everywhere, and there are the ‘shinies,’ who are negroes.
1900		Pall Mall Gaz. 5 Sept. 4/2: The peculiarity of the [US] South is that ‘shinies’ (nigger tramps) and white ‘hoboes’ keep apart, not from racial hatred, but because association does not pay.

2. (US) a black person.

1918		Missouri Valley Times 14 Mar. 5/4: The company is headed by Shinie Kinling, King of the Black Face Comedians.
1923		H.C. Witwer Fighting Blood 95: ‘Shiney’ Jepps, the dinge rubber, and Nate is getting me ready.