[jfrankamp]

I think some people like myself see the current issue as an iceberg like problem. Systemic racism is composed of many tiny parts. This is not an either/or question, but a yes/and one. You can both not want to be killed and care about the casual and lazy use of language. We can as technologists, change this without stopping work on police reform for example. The defensiveness/resistance to change is much more interesting to me.

As for signalling, Sure we don't need to advertise it to ourselves and give accolades for something so simple. But we can do the bit and move on. I guess a lot of people are in love with the idea that if doing something is good then it must be being done in order to be _seen_ as doing good. That is bullshit unless you happen to know intent.

[root_axis]

I think now is the worst possible time to delve into this issue. America doesn't pay attention to anything for long, especially issues related to systemic racism. Right now when we have the ear of America we can't afford to squander that attention on trivialities that don't affect the lives or outcomes of oppressed people. The dynamics of racial discourse over the last decade means unimportant issues like this will only be used as an excuse to shut down the conversation around the issues that really do matter, yet we don't get anything material in return for dying on this hill, this is just social justice theater meant to make privileged people feel good about themselves.

[jfrankamp]

I hear that. Months from now would be better than now if as you say it derails better and more urgent conversations.

[hckr_news]

Good point. Micro aggressions add up if you will.

[sukilot]

Somehow people forgot that "micro" was part of "micro aggressions". When you are in a comfortable space where macro aggressions are absent, it's worth looking at micro agressions.

I'd rather GitHub keep "master" and have a onhover tooltip in the web UI showing a quote of the day about modern slavery or racism and linking to a way to take action.