Real Estate Agents and Builders to stop using the terms “master bedroom” and “master bathroom”
Words get used and reused and change meanings all the all the time. Even if the word has it's origins in slavery, which seems to be questionable as i can't find any clear history of it's origins, it's rarely used in that context outside history lessons. I'm not sure how meaningful it would be to eliminate the use of the word. I think the word itself is amoral and as with most things, context matters.
It's the same issue with symbols, money and statues. Context matters. The objects are inanimate and have no powers on their own. How they're used and directed is what gives them power.
As mentioned earlier in the thread, symbols that were created and meant for good were hijacked and used for oppression, while others meant for symbols of oppression have been reclaimed for good.
Where we are with the word master seems questionable because today it's seldom applied or meant in an oppressive context.
I feel like I'm in bizarro world because you and I seem to agree on almost everything, but I'm going to give you some pushback here too.
The argument put forth by black activists and the people who support them is basically as follows:
"The word master started with racist undertones rooted in slavery and indentured servitude. Sure, when you say 'master bedroom' you don't really think of slavery. Even if 99.9% of that connotation has been erased, it's still a word you're going to hear thousands of times in your life. And while it may not consciously spark a mental connection to slavery, it's just a constant evvvver so subtle reminder, even if fully subconscious, of racism and oppression and 'the black person's place'."
I really hate this word because they've been co-opted by obnoxious vegan Instragram attention whores, but they're called micro-aggressions***. Now imagine that you're black and you're surrounded by them in your daily life. Master bedroom. Aunt Jemima, Dixie Beer. Rebel Flags on trucks everywhere. It's a constant, subtle, even subconscious downward pressure on you.
*** let me just disclaimer that I think "microaggressions" and the concept of them have been hijacked and taken entirely too far, especially when applied outside of the realm of race. Woke culture can be extremely toxic in some circumstances and I don't always support it. In fact viscerally woke people and cancel culture instantly provoke a negative reaction from me. I've tried over my life to separate the message from the annoying green haired messenger.
But anyway, that's the argument, Dave. I don't understand it, because I'm white. But it makes sense to me. And it's why, in a situation like this where it literally causes zero inconvenience for me as a white man to change the name, I just assume we defer to the black folks on it
Would love to hear from any black posters on this one, as I sort of feel like I'm awkwardly trying to make the case with limited understanding of it.