73
Offensive names dot the American street map − a new app provides a way to track them.
(theconversation.com)
this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2024
73 points (84.1% liked)
Technology
59211 readers
2636 users here now
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Our Rules
- Follow the lemmy.world rules.
- Only tech related content.
- Be excellent to each another!
- Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
- Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
- Politics threads may be removed.
- No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
- Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
- Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
Approved Bots
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
While that is a great approach when the words have no weight, ignoring systemic discrimination that perpetuates actual harm is counterproductive.
When a cop calls all black people thugs and criminals, it is something that shouldn't be ignored. When a football team is named the Washington [slurs] it perpetuates racism against native americans in a way that has actual impacts on people. When schools are named after traitors it shows society is fine with elevating their views and ideals.
The importance of words depends on context and blowing off systemic racism permanently installed in public view because they are 'just words' ignores the real harm that those words have. Street signs with derogatory slurs against native people who were the victims of genocide is the equivalent of having slurs used hy the nazis on street signs.