In order to understand, ask questions

Is it racist when someone of a background other than your own tells you that you are surprisingly articulate? Is that considered offensive? Growing up in the South, without an accent to pin me down to any race, per se, I have experienced this offense. I learned today from Keith Woods, dean of faculty at The Poynter Institute, that I have to resort to questions in order to understand where a person who says this is coming from. As journalists, we must ask questions to avoid making mountains out of mole hills. Mr. Woods’ speech, I hope, will stay in the mind of Chipsters and be spread throughout our profession.