The Dignity of Capitalization
If we’re going to embrace group identity, let’s be symmetrical and consistent about it
I realize the Grammar Police are probably going to come after me for taking the stand I’m taking on this topic. But I really don’t care. It’s more important to me that we be inclusive and have integrity than it is to promote “political correctness.”
People often criticize me by claiming that I unnecessarily capitalize too many words.
They claim that I’m failing to obey “the rules.”
Allow me to shed light on why exactly I believe capitalization can be our friend.
Race to the Top (or Bottom)?
The classic example is the modern-day debate over whether or not to capitalize “Black” and/or “White” when referring to racial groups.
According to Associated Press Style (AP), they capitalize “Black” but leave “white” in all lowercase because of the unique history that Black people in the United States share in terms of being descended from ancestors terrorized by chattel slavery.
In my view, this mismatch doesn’t pass the sniff test. It’s often said that white supremacists would choose to capitalize “White” — and, for that reason, we should refrain from following…
