In the talk titled "When words mean more than just words: Don't Blacklist us," Espartaco Palma addresses the significance of language in professional settings, particularly in tech and development environments. He emphasizes the harmful effects that certain terminology can have on underrepresented groups and the importance of adopting more inclusive language. He asserts that these changes are necessary for creating a supportive and productive workplace for all coworkers. Below are the key points discussed in the presentation:

• Introduction to the Topic: Espartaco introduces the idea that language impacts human interactions and can cause emotional distress and feelings of exclusion among underrepresented individuals.

• Terminology Issues: He explains how specific terms, such as "master" and "blacklist," can carry negative connotations and be offensive to many. He references Kaya Thomas’s work to highlight the ongoing issues in tech regarding these terms and encourages the audience to reflect on the language used in their work.

• Recent Changes and Examples: Palma mentions initiatives by organizations such as Software Freedom Conservancy, which is modifying language within their software development practices. For instance, they proposed the use of alternative terms to replace "master" in their codebase, such as "main."

• Community Engagement: The talk emphasizes the importance of community involvement in advocating for change. Espartaco provides the example of government projects, like login.gov, which have made strides in adopting inclusive language practices.

• Practical Steps for Change: Palma encourages individuals to propose alternatives to exclusionary terms in their own work environments. He suggests using terms like "primary" and "secondary" instead of "master" and offers various other examples of language that can be adopted to foster inclusivity.

• Challenges to Change: He addresses potential resistance and concerns that developers may have about implementing these changes, stressing that change is a gradual process that requires patience and commitment from all team members.

• Conclusion and Call to Action: The talk concludes with a call for collective effort in pushing for linguistic changes within coding and software development. Palma invites everyone to participate actively in promoting a more inclusive culture in programming and to engage in dialogues about these issues in their workplaces.

Overall, Palma's presentation is a compelling invitation to rethink not only how we communicate in code but also the broader implications of the words we choose, ultimately striving for a more inclusive tech community.