Some long responses I've made lately to some hot issues
[from more than one thread ...]
You don't have to support slavery for certain terms to be insensitive. It can be merely a reminder of slavery because of the original intent of the term which, you may not happen to know about.
There are blankets that have been made by the Hudson Bay Company for more than 240 years with a distinctive stripe pattern. At some point they started to be made into coats as well. They are iconic in Canadian fashion.
In more recent days, many people have been surprised to learn that these have triggered feelings of racism amongst native people (mainly in Canada).
Turns out that it's not just resentment over the huge influence that the Company had in spreading European (i.e. white) colonisation (and thus taking away land and food from the original occupants) but there is a much more sinister history.
There was an actual plan discussed where those blankets would have been intentionally contaminated with disease, especially smallpox, before being given to native people. While it is hard to prove that this was carried out in force, there are definitely documents from the time that talked about it; in addition, it is fairly likely that individuals did such things independently. There is no doubt that smallpox, influenza, and other diseases did wipe out huge numbers of the First Nations populations whether intentionally or not.
I had no idea of this dark history until the last five to ten years and, having some native blood, I am appalled and feel sick about it. I always thought the blankets and coats were cool (while being very warm!) and always thought I'd get one some day but those feelings have obviously "cooled".
I hope this helps some people see how something that they grew up with and that could be comforting or fun or convenient for them is very different for someone else. Nobody is trying to be a jerk on either side of the issue nor wanting to take something away from the other but the use of some things are unintentionally hurtful (blankets, flags, blacklists, Cinco de drinko, etc.). Of course it can be painful to give up something or an idea but being considerate should always be high up on our motivations of how we act, talk, write, etc.
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the terms black list and white list were around long before computers.
There is also being black balled. A hundred years ago and all, if someone were trying to get into an exclusive men's club the other members would be given a black marble and a white marble. Each would drop one of their marbles into a box, without showing which one. When the box was opened, if there was a black one (or more) in there, the applicant would not be allowed to join.
Sooooo, black means shun and white means accept. This is probably how the blacklist term evolved.
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Of course you're not trying to offend. And just because we are hearing about offense now doesn't mean others have not found it as such for the last century. It means communication has gotten better.
As to red tape (and the Redskins name), the native community does not have the same voice that the black community does. There has been a little more exposure to native concerns because as they say, a rising tide lifts all boats. As someone who does have native blood, I would love to see many terms go away. Terminology will evolve in time thankfully.
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(Regarding racial sensitivity training)
Don't most guys say and do things that make many women cringe?
Maybe men should be given some education at some time in their lives on what sorts of things are not appropriate to say, do, or joke about regarding women.
While some of those men never or rarely ever have done such things, they still might learn some things like how much others do it or how to spot it and either take action themselves or how to report it. They may gain more appreciation for what women are going through rather than just making their own guesses.
Now imagine that all different sorts of people (not just Caucasian people) do or say things that unintentionally are upsetting to people from other backgrounds (Asian, native, black, Hispanic, white, Arab, etc.). Wouldn't it be nice if everyone knew that using your left hand for certain things is highly offensive to a large part of the world? That handling flags properly can be a sensitive issue, and so many other things.
In many ways we live in a much smaller world where different cultures interact in modern ways. It's a fact that won't go away. Let's know about each other, be accepting, and not force or be forced to do anything. Let's just be respectful of ourselves and others.
