Both “whites” and “blacks” just sound like slightly derogatory or diminishing ways to refer to people, which is why I never use them. These are subtle nuances to some, much more pronounced ones to others.

My main point is more that if you know some people feel othered or excluded by certain language choices, and a perfectly great alternative is available that doesn’t cause that, it costs you nothing to change your chosen language. This particular article, however, explores the challenge when there isn’t a readily available alternative. It becomes a consideration, a “wherever possible I will do this.”