There is absolutely nothing wrong with bringing this up and leading by example, speaking up about an issue and making the change to make our communities more inclusive. Certainly we can't speak for how all black people feel about this term, but this isn't what you're doing. As allies our responsibility is to educate our own community and it just so happens to be white men and the faction of those who are resistant to change and thinking from other people's perspectives came to dogpile. And sadly this is just one fraction of what outspoken black folks experience. But this is difficult work... and fights have to be picked. There are people who are genuinely interested to discuss and introspect why such a change matters or bothers them. And there's those who are so outraged at any suggestion of change, or just need to be right and pester nonstop.
You're not responsible for how they've reacted. And how you've responded has been generous, human and accomodating. I would also use this energy in your workplace in moments you see that are awry, if someone makes an oddly insensitive joke or is excluded from speaking or meetings, is ridiculed for not knowing something. This is great energy and we need to use it where it matters. Do not apologize and keep pushing!
In the comments I see a range of fragile pushback from centering oneself ("well this never existed in my culture so why should I have to change"), appeal to authority (the authority of black people who only share their point of view, or authority of the creator's non-racist intent), all-or-nothing equivalences ("how about we ban every word with "master" in it too?), trivializing the matter ("this is more political-correctness")... the list goes on. We can feel out when it is useful to engage and when not, because some of these people aren't actually here to talk. You don't owe them an apology at all.
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with bringing this up and leading by example, speaking up about an issue and making the change to make our communities more inclusive. Certainly we can't speak for how all black people feel about this term, but this isn't what you're doing. As allies our responsibility is to educate our own community and it just so happens to be white men and the faction of those who are resistant to change and thinking from other people's perspectives came to dogpile. And sadly this is just one fraction of what outspoken black folks experience. But this is difficult work... and fights have to be picked. There are people who are genuinely interested to discuss and introspect why such a change matters or bothers them. And there's those who are so outraged at any suggestion of change, or just need to be right and pester nonstop.
You're not responsible for how they've reacted. And how you've responded has been generous, human and accomodating. I would also use this energy in your workplace in moments you see that are awry, if someone makes an oddly insensitive joke or is excluded from speaking or meetings, is ridiculed for not knowing something. This is great energy and we need to use it where it matters. Do not apologize and keep pushing!
In the comments I see a range of fragile pushback from centering oneself ("well this never existed in my culture so why should I have to change"), appeal to authority (the authority of black people who only share their point of view, or authority of the creator's non-racist intent), all-or-nothing equivalences ("how about we ban every word with "master" in it too?), trivializing the matter ("this is more political-correctness")... the list goes on. We can feel out when it is useful to engage and when not, because some of these people aren't actually here to talk. You don't owe them an apology at all.