Friday 9/21 class lecture

I thought today's class discussion very powerful and thought-provoking. I personally never realized that labeling an individual as "black" or "white" could be taken offensively! Perhaps this is simply because I've always used such terms and never had anyone express any offense taken. Yet the more I think about these labels, the more I understand that they may be hurtful. Race is an incredibly sticky subject to deal with. It's SO difficult to properly label someone in a news story when necessary. As a journalist myself, I am always questioning whether my words are politically correct, and since AP Stylebooks are constantly changing and updating, it is difficult to know how people will react to labels. Since there is no specific way to label a racial group that will please everyone, it is best to at least attempt the majority of people you are labeling. I think that this is a topic seldom discussed, primarily because it is so sensitive and difficult to find agreement. Hopefully our class discussions will continue in a productive manner so that everyone feels comfortable expressing their opinions without unintentionally hurting a fellow colleague.