We should show them the Star Trek original series episode where Lt. Uhura is complemented as a beautiful negress. Someone remarks that negress is inappropriate / no longer used. She replies that she is fine with the complement, because it is a compliment - not an insult.
I think Trelane said something about Lt. Uhura being captured, presumably as a (negress) slave, and she says: "We are a free people!".
But yes, she wasn't offended by the term. Just made it clear that she was never a conquered "slave".