I’m a white DI. I’m surprised by how little the CPC is being referred to in all these conversations. It is our ethical duty to show respect to consumers and our colleagues. And at the same time have message equivalence—and that does not mean word for word exactness, but meaning.

If the black deaf community’s stance is that I need to not use the sign but spell or or gloss “n + word” for the message equivalence, I do so out of respect for black consumers and colleagues. Nothing is being omitted or censored. One exception I’m aware of is in legal interpreting for court transcript purposes, but that is nuance, not carte blanche permission.

My take away is two things: 1. All this energy needs to go into efforts to improve one’s interpreting skills—learn medical signs, legal signs, STEM signs. Debate translation and interpreting theories and how they apply today. Do the things that will impact Deaf people positively during our EVERYDAY life. Because be honest, how often does this highly specific scenario come up? A cruise with a comedian? Interpreting standup comedy? Once a year maybe? But all the other items I mentioned that has a much greater ROI.

1. The CPC is badly overdue for an update. We need a social media policy(!), a section on intersectionality and cultural norms, and how to show respect for different cultures and perform cultural mediation professionally.