This question often arises when people start to deal with the issue of racism. It is not at all a question of imposing bans, but of creating awareness of the fact that racism is transported in a (often) subtle way through language.
For over a long time, power relations, as in the form of racism, have inscribed themselves in the use of language and certain terms were and are explicitly used to secure power relations by producing them again and again through language. On the one hand, language depicts reality and on the other hand, it also creates realities. Among other things, it structures our thinking, our perception and our emotions. Language is always a result of historical and contemporary power relations and maps our ideas of what is "normal". This can be discriminatory and reproduce pejorative views of certain social affiliations and ways of life. It can legitimise injustice, oppression, but also violence. Often we are not even aware of the problematic content in words or messages and it requires an active confrontation and the willingness to deal with language in a discrimination-sensitive way. Language is constantly changing and is not rigid. This also means that there are always opportunities to change language and one's own use of it.
Foreign terms are words that a privileged social group uses to describe and label the "others". In the context of racism, foreign names are always linked to devaluation and denial of humanity. People are made invisible, homogenised and turned into the "other". Discriminatory language is powerful and effective and can mark, disempower and marginalise people - but above all, it can hurt and dehumanise!
Self-designations, on the other hand, are words that people (groups) use to describe and designate themselves. There are terms of foreign designation that serve as self-designation; such as Kanake (trigger warning, this racist term can trigger injuries). Around this term, a scene of resistance has emerged, reflected in rap songs, film, theatre, literature, political stance, etc. On the one hand, this is a self-conscious dealing with the ascribed identity and at the same time a reframing and appropriation of the terms as political resistance against. Terms emerge anew or are self-consciously used from other languages as foreign terms for themselves or others; BIPOC, PoC, Alman.
Even if some terms may seem unwieldy or unfamiliar to us at first: they enable us to think of the world differently and to question previously familiar structures and world views. Last but not least, they make it possible for us to refer to people respectfully and to choose a language that is inclusive and includes everyone.
Inclusive diversity-sensitive and racism-critical language is important because language influences our assessment of reality and actively contributes to equality. Conscious language can avoid misunderstandings and ensure better togetherness. Language can empower people and has an enormous impact on the way we think and act, which is why self-designations are very important.
