Yesterday I learned that the expression “let’s call a spade a spade” has racist undertones (check it out here at Wikipedia, source of all FACTS). I had NO idea. I use this phrase all the time– with friends, with my students, with myself (yeah, I talk to myself. Topic for another day).

Anyway, when I found out this phrase has racist origins, I FREAKED OUT. I immediately texted my friend Adam, who is a general knower of things, to see if he knew this. He didn’t. So that made me feel better. As did THIS reassurance:

Oh ok. Phew.