Historically, the term cockroach has been used as dehumanising label by powerful groups like governments, military forces, dictators and political movement to marginalise, decimate or control people. Calling a group “cockroaches” frames them as pests rather than human beings, making harsh treatment appear more acceptable. The term “cockroach” (or equivalents like “inyenzi” in Kinyarwanda) has the article explains cockraoch phsychology and how langauge has been historically used for repression, genocide, repression and dehumanisation
Source: Cockroach psychology explained: when language becomes a tool repression and dehumanisation
