Matt Zoller Seitz’s writing makes me feel bad about my own:

“The word choice is deliberately anachronistic — ‘negro’ started to fall out of fashion about 40 years ago. But that’s why it’s so devastating. The word ‘negro’ was a transitional word that fell between the white-comforting ‘colored’ and the more militantly self-determined and oppositional ‘black.’ It asked for dignity and autonomy without going that extra step asserting that it existed anyway, with or without white America’s approval. ‘Negro’ fits the sorts of characters that incensed Lee. Even though the movies take pains to insist that the African-American character is as much a flesh-and-blood person as the white hero, the relationship is that of a master and servant. And not a real servant, either: one that really, truly lives to serve, has no life to speak of beyond his service to Da Man, and never seems to trouble himself with doubts about the cause to which he’s devoting his time and energy. ‘How is it that black people have these powers but they use them for the benefit of white people?’ Lee asked sarcastically.”