It’s not rude to say Black

It’s not rude to say Black, and other essential learning for Black History Month

Look, to be honest we weren’t sure if this one was going to be well received at work. Was this a taboo topic? In the end we decided that was exactly the point and brought it anyway. And we’re glad we did, it led to some great conversations.

This is an episode from the Know Better Do Better podcast with host Marie Beecham and offers insightful and thought-provoking episodes on social issues, race, and equity. Marie’s fresh take on antiracism has resonated with millions of listeners and with us personally.

This episode deals head on with whether it’s better to say “African American” or “Black” and even explains why it might actually be more rude to avoid saying “Black”.

Suggested discussion questions (if you need something to start the conversation):

• Have you ever tried asking someone how they’d like to be addressed? How did it go?

• Have you observed people using race as an unnecessary descriptor?

• Any learnings or takeaways from today’s episode?