Master Bedroom

Some have suggested that we stop using the term ‘Master Bedroom’, arguing that the words ‘master’ and ‘slave’ have a racist connotation.

The concern is understandable, especially if our perspective on slavery is focused on the Americas between the 16th and 19th Centuries, a grim chapter in history by any measure. Agrarian economies in the West, populated by European settlers and their descendants, used enslaved Africans as a source of labor for centuries. The slaves were Black, the owners were White, and life for the slaves was unspeakably tragic.

But slavery has a much longer history. It has existed since the beginnings of human civilization. The Sumerians had slaves. The Greeks and Phoenicians had slaves. The Roman Empire had massive slave populations from throughout Europe and the Middle East. They Byzantine Empire had slaves, often Christians captured in battles with the Turks.

Slavery is abhorrent, but it is not always racist. The slaves and the owners were not always of different races. This is true even in today’s world. Boko Haram has slaves who, like their captors, are Africans.

Given this broader perspective of slavery, I would argue that the words ‘master’ and ‘slave’ are not inherently racist. Slaves and their owners are/were frequently or the same race.

Further, there are times when the words master and slave do not even refer to human beings. When two machines need to operate in coordination with one another, they are sometimes configured in a “master-slave” relationship. There is nothing inherently evil about such a system.

I would argue that we do not need to give up our Master Bedrooms. The term is not racist.

Nor do we have to rename our Masters Degrees. We can attend a Master Class or enjoy a meal performed by a Master Chef. Athletes over forty can continue to compete at the Masters level, and we can all continue to pursue mastery in our chosen craft or profession. You can even tip the Maître d’ (Table Master) before enjoying a formal dinner with the Head Mistress.

These are not evil words. They do not need to be removed from the lexicon of polite communication.