Let’s Review #5 — A closer look at the words we use when discussing race and racism
We review…
“Words mean things.”
Our favorite podcasters, Crissle and Kid Fury of The Read, are fond of saying that. It’s true now more than ever, but particularly when it comes to tough conversations.
Featured in this episode…
Americans, in person and online, are discussing race and racism.
We talked with Al Young, associate professor of sociology and African/Afro-American studies at the University of Michigan, about the words we use to talk about race and current events.
Here are some of the words we talked about:
Is what happened in Baltimore a “riot” or an “uprising?”
“Black-on-black crime” is statistically correct, but no more so than other intra-group crime.
What are the intention behind saying, an “unarmed black man?”
Were the recent murders in Charleston, South Carolina a “hate crime” or a “terrorist attack?”
And your host Jenn White launched a sneak attack on her co-host, Kimberly Springer. Jenn brought up the whole Rachael Dolezal mess.
Don’t despair, though. All this language parsing is in service to figuring out how we have real conversations.
For your review…
Jenn recommends Ta-Nehisi Coates’ article in The Atlantic, “Take Down the Confederate Flag — Now.”
Kim recommends the entire ouvre of writer Chaedria Labouvier of Elle Magazine. Especially check out this piece, “What you’re missing about the ‘Baltimore Mom.’”
Thanks to Mark Brush, our producer, for engineering and editing assistance.
Creative Commons-licensed music courtesy of Eladla and Jaspertine.
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Have questions or show ideas? Email us at letusreviewpodcast@gmail.com.
