Race is a complex social construct that helps maintain a sociopolitical hierarchy.
All people have the right to self-identify (or not) with one or more racial or faith group. This means that how they identify, not their background, physical appearance, or nationality, is the determining factor.
It is also important to note that a person's racial identity may change over time, or from context to context. Before writing about or mentioning an individual's identity, always confirm how they identify. As with all other identities, a person's race should only be mentioned if it is relevant to the story.
Terms such as visible minority and person of colour are quickly becoming outdated. Instead, considering using the following, depending on the context:
The Ontario Human Rights Commission uses the term members of racialized communities. This expression may also be used to for members of marginalized religious groups.
If an individual has shared with you how they would like to be referred to, be specific in the way that you identify them. Avoid grouping cultures and nationalities together. Instead of referring to an individual as Middle Eastern or Asian, use the person's specific nationality.
Avoid assuming or implying that people who belong to the same racialized group have had similar experiences or opportunities in life. Two individuals of the same race might have very different experiences, challenges and opportunities based on factors such as:
As language has the potential to be dehumanizing or liberating, we have the choice not to use language that normalizes and accepts dehumanizing acts, mindsets, or policies.
When describing immigration trends or issues, watch out for terms with negative connotations. Terms such as illegal alien or illegal immigrant are dehumanizing to individuals. A more inclusive term is undocumented. For example, "an individual who is undocumented."
Similarly, the term "slave" reduces a person to a position they never chose to be in. It can strip the person from their human identity. Continuing to use terms such as slave, slavery and slave master normalizes the enslavement as a state of being. Notice how a simple word change shifts the attention to the horrifying actions of the enslaver in the examples below. Learn more.
| Insensitive Language | Suggested, Liberating Alternative |
|---|---|
| slave (noun) |
enslaved person/man/woman/child enslaved [position] (Example: enslaved farmer or artisan) |
|
slaveholder slave master slave owner |
enslaver |
| slavery | enslavement |
Capitalize the proper names of nationalities, peoples, races, and nation.
Examples: Arab, Latin, French, Cree, Canadian
Leave out hyphens when referring to dual heritage names.
Example: Instead of Korean-Canadian, consider Korean Canadian.
Some style guides have different rules about capitalizing the words Black and white. As a general rule, capitalize the word Black when referring to race.
Othering is "the act of treating a culture or individual as fundamentally different from another class of individuals, often by emphasizing its apartness in traits that differ from one's own" (Merriam-Webster).
Othering does not always occur intentionally. In fact, we might not notice that we are categorizing people, religions and cultures into "Us" vs. "Them". Some examples of othering include:
Throughout history, slurs and pejorative terms have been used to further marginalize racialized and equity-deserving groups. Sometimes, these words are explicitly offensive and violent. Other times, the aggression is more subtle and harder to detect. Either way, the use of such pejorative terms is an act of othering.
Overtime, the meaning of a word and the intention behind using it might change, to the point that the average person might not be able to determine whether a term is considered offensive.
Racialized and equity-deserving groups have reclaimed some of these terms by using them within their community in an endearing or empowering way. This is called in-group naming, or in-group language. Unless you belong to the specific community, it is inappropriate and harmful to use these words, even if they are common in pop culture. Some examples are the N-word and the F-word.
Through the process of in-group naming and activism, some terms eventually evolve to take on a completely new, positive meaning, making them acceptable for use by outgroups. One example is the word queer.
Some phrases that include "broken English" were initially used to make fun of Indigenous and immigrant groups.
| Instead of Using... | Consider Using... |
|---|---|
| Long time no see! | It's been a while! |
| No can do. | Sorry, I can't. |
Terms that connotate a slave/master relationship are being replaced with more neutral language. Below are some examples from everyday language, as well as alternatives. To learn more about terminology specific to technology and engineering, see the article by Tyler Charboneau.
| Insensitive Term | Suggested Alternative |
|---|---|
| master project | main project |
| master bedroom/bathroom | primary bedroom/bathroom |
| master of ceremonies | host, moderator, announcer |
Be mindful when using words or expressions that include references to black or white. While these words may appear harmless, many of them are racially charged. Often, blackness signals something bad or wrong, whereas whiteness implies purity.
| Insensitive Language | Suggested Alternatives | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caucasian | white people |
In reality, there is no biological "race". The term Caucasian was created as a way to make white supremacy scientifically justifiable. For more information, see Is the Word Caucasian Racist? |
| coloured, blacks | Black people |
The word Black (as an adjective) is generally acceptable. Never use Black as a noun, either singular or plural. Some people may use terms such as Black Canadian, African Canadian, or African American. Note that not all Black people may identify with these terms. Learn more. |
|
visible minority, racial minority |
Equity-deserving group | The word "minority" creates the false impression that non-white racial groups form a smaller percentage of the population than the white "majority". |
| Ghetto, inner-city |
Use the name of the neighbourhood or area. If appropriate, use neutral terms such as city centre or central urban. If referring to low-income neighbourhoods, use words such as under-resourced, under-served, or low-income. |
See the section on socio-economic status for more information. |
| Orientals | Asian people, Asian Canadian individuals, [specific nationality] | The term "Oriental" is outdated and is associated with a period in US history when people from East Asia had subordinate status in society. |
| Foreigners, illegal aliens | newcomers, refugees | Avoid dehumanizing or othering language. |
| People(s) of Colour (POC) |
Write specifically about the particular person or group. If you need to generalize, use the term "racialized people(s)" |
While terms such as POC and BIPOC have become popular over the past years, some writers and activists believe grouping different populations together erases the experiences of each group. For more information, refer to the Introduction tab. |
| slave; slavery | enslaved person; enslavement | The term "slave" reduces a person to a position they never chose to be in. It can also strip the person from their human identity. Continuing to use terms such as slave, slavery and slave master normalizes the enslavement as a state of being. Learn more. |
| slave master, slave owner | enslaver |
Human beings cannot be "owned". The verb "enslave" helps bring attention to the horrific acts involved in enslavement. |
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