Racism is so embedded in our lives that even everyday expressions that might seem innocuous are in fact examples of the pervasiv
e power of language and the ways words and phrases associate blackness with negativity. Examples include words and phrases such as black sheep, blackballing, blackmail, blacklisting, black mark, and blackout. Other words and phrases include minority, ghetto, thug, and inner city. Discuss the ways Reynolds sheds light on how Black people have worked collectively to resist such negativity. To what extent do all citizens of a democratic society have a responsibility to disrupt the racism that is embedded in the English language?
