Ancestry

Has a racist or colonialist undertone

Many words and phrases used in everyday exchanges have racist origins, undertones, and connotations. Some are obvious, like "master bedroom," "gyp," or "Black Magic.". Others are less overt like "melting pot" - a concept that frames ancestries and heritages in a way that fails to acknowledge white privilege, prevailing power dynamics, and disparities. And then there are racial microaggression, such as asking where a person is "really from" or praising them for being articulate. Why not ask, where they've lived, or thank them for a stimulating conversation?