We’re All Terrified of Talking About Race and Gender

It’s a symptom of our hypersensitized, polarized times that almost no one feels fluent speaking the language of race or gender. It’s a minefield out there, even for those of us whose stock in trade is covering those topics.

Though I’m a woman of color, I’m always checking myself, at times terrified that I’d be labeled a racist, sexist, or other “ist” for using the wrong terminology or being too frank. According to my daughters, I’m a walking disaster. “Mom, that’s so inappropriate,” is a refrain I hear all the time. (Note to self, “fat” is a verboten term).

Sometimes ...