It used to be a much shorter list.
That was my big takeaway when the Race/Related team from The New York Times started collecting the more bothersome words and phrases that are used in reference to race, many of which appear in the paper’s own Manual of Style and Usage.
Here’s what drove them nuts, for starters: Diversity hire, ethnic, person of color, exotic and urban. When Twitter got into the act, the list expanded rapidly to include Hispanic, the race card, African American, minority, Rachel Dolezal (oh Twitter) and the Black community.
Even playwright and actor Anna Deavere Smith weighed in:
“’Diversity’. ‘Multicultural’. ‘It’s time to have a honest conversation about race.’ Applying the word ‘playing field’,” she tweeted.
“’Diversity’. ‘Multicultural’. ‘It’s time to have a honest conversation about race.’ Applying the word ‘playing field’,” she tweeted.
It also reminded me of the many words that have made me cringe over the years that have mostly disappeared from common business usage, except as artifacts. The last time I heard “high yellow” applied unironically was at a magazine-related work event when an ad executive was attempting to explain to his bored wife who this new presidential candidate was. “This guy Obamo,” he explained over plastic cups of wine. “You’ll know him right away. He’s high yellow, like her,” he said, jabbing a crab puff in my direction.
That wasn’t that long ago when you think about it.
Language comes at you fast, particularly in business. What terms and phrases have you put aside? Not just the ones that drive you personally nuts, but what changes have you made institutionally? E-mail me when you get a second with the details. And please say that you’ve banned “opening the kimono.” Also, pioneering. And “holding down the fort.” “Homosexual lifestyle.” See? The list used to be a lot shorter. I think it means we’re getting better at all of this.