Words you can/t use

Ta-Nehisi Coates on words that don’t belong to everyone

Ta-Nehisi talks about how some words should not be used by some people. Take the word used to describe black people in North America as an example. He believes the word can be used by everyone. I mean, fair enough, any word can be used by anyone. But I feel that these words (when used, of course) should be used with caution. The words can be quite personal and offensive, so I think one should bare in mind the possible effects that they can have on surrounding people when using them.

This isn’t just limited to descriptive words, but also other offensive words, like swear words, or even explicit words (that may not necessarily be a swear word) that can be inappropriate in public. Some of these words can be disrespectful. As an example, you could take the phrase “white trash” used to describe white people. I wouldn’t go around saying “hey, look it’s a piece of white trash” wherever I went. It is offensive, and can negatively effect the people around them. Though these words can be used by all, I do think people should be mindful of others when using them.