Racism and the Words We Use

I've been editing a short work on racism for a black pastor this week; very interesting experience. I think what I've learned most from it is how much history has influenced the present, and continues to influence the future. He's managed to draw a very clear and convincing line between hundreds of years of slavery and "inferiority training" and the challenges many of my black friends face within themselves today.

In researching a certain point yesterday I came across this article, which highlights some of what I'm talking about, while pointing out how important the battle for vocabulary is in any great fight. Interesting stuff.