I saw this picture today on a website, and it made me think. I am a Social Worker, and I learnt a lot about anti-discriminatory practice and anti-oppressive practice while studying for my degree. I also did two and a half placements in mental health, and worked at a home for adults living with Cerebral Palsy for the duration of my study.
I am very aware of the importance of words. Being a writer myself, I know that words have strong meaning, and they can be very oppressive, empowering or liberating. However, I have always had it at the back of my mind that sometimes when we discard certain words and replace them for more refined words, we really haven’t actually improved anything for anyone! Sometimes, it’s really just very confusing…
Read more at https://ufuomaee.blog/different-or-special-whats-the-big-deal/
Editor’s Pick is a special category on Grace and Truth for sharing previously published content that some of my readers may have missed. Please follow the link to the original post to continue reading, and make your comments there. This link may be disabled after 90 days, and any comments made here will no longer be visible, until the post is shared again. Thanks for understanding and for reading, liking, sharing and commenting!
It's kind to share :)
Categories: Editor's Pick, Repost
Grace and Truth 
Special, different, unique all register in my brain as positive words. I am African American but I am not black, and being called coloured is offensive. People don’t realize the power words have and therefore need education on it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I too find the term ‘coloured’ more offensive. No one is really black and no one is really white either. The correct words would be dark-skinned and light-skinned 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What about Caucasian? What does that mean anyway? How is it connected to white. Do you think Caucasian people are offended when someone calls them white?
LikeLike
I don’t know if people are offended when called White. I think (but could be wrong) that it was people who called themselves White who chose to call us ‘Black’ or ‘Nigga’, and then thought ‘Coloured’ was more PC. As far as I am aware, Caucasian is a scientific name for people who are light-skinned and originate from Europe. I really don’t know who comes up with these names, like humans are also called Homosapiens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the real wonder. Who made it this stuff and who decided to make the decision for everyone to be called such names. Who are these ppl?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tell me oh! But if we go that far, we should ask who were the people that discovered or created the English language??? I don’t think there was ever just one person. Humans create language to understand their world, and certain systems help in certain circles. The scientists know what ‘homo’ means or ‘caucasian’ or whatever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve always wondered who or what group of people created the English language or any language for that matter and assigned it to a certain group of people. Then people look at you weird when you don’t speak “correct” english. What is correct english anyway? How do we know english isn’t Arabic? What if the people who created english traded the language with the people who created Arabic, and called it english. What if Arabic is really english and english, arabic?
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! Mind boggling! Well, I know that A LARGE AMOUNT of English was taken from Latin! But I don’t know Latin… I think it is a lost language. English borrows from French too. Or is it the other way round? Sha, as long as we can communicate ourselves clearly to those who we want to understand us, then all is well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, communication is key. Thanks for entertaining my brain. See ya later.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, my thanks to you 🙂 I enjoyed our little chat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too 👌
LikeLiked by 1 person