Words Have Wool: Untangling "Black Sheep"

Ever been called the black sheep of the family? Maybe you’ve said it about someone else — the rebel, the rule-breaker, the one who didn’t quite fit the mold.But here’s the twist: that fluffy little phrase carries more history (and bias) than most of us realize.In this episode of Canadian Salad, Andrea and Hostion trace the origins of “black sheep” — from literal flocks of woolly animals to biblical mistranslations, color symbolism, and the way language quietly reinforces who’s “in” and who’s “out.” It’s a conversation about how words evolve, how culture shapes meaning, and why being mindful with language isn’t “politically correct” — it’s just being human.Expect laughter, learning, and the occasional cat cameo (Pepper, we’re looking at you 🐈‍⬛).Plus, a simple way to rethink outdated phrases using the three R’s: Reclaim. Replace. Reflect.Because words have wool — and sometimes, it’s time to brush them out.🎧 Listen to the full episode today!Let us know what you think of this episode! Text us!Go to Canadian Salad Website for all sources cited in this episode. Sign up for our newsletter to stay connected: https://www.canadiansalad.ca/contact And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.Follow us on TikTok and Instagram Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay. A Janklin Production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.