Unkind Words: Ethnic Labeling from Redskin to Wasp

"Unkind Words" is a study of the linguistic, cultural, and sociological study of ethnic labeling in the United States. Allen uses historical context to examine the "popular interest in ethnic origins, ethnic identity, and the workings of plural society" through the lens of language. The book is divided into two parts: "Traditional Slurs" and "Newer Devices," looking at the past to understand the way contemporary Americans use ethnic labeling to conceptualize and stereotype others.