Labels infuse our culture, transforming us in ways we do not fully understand. Commercial labels are the easiest to process and dismiss. We see them as identifiers, product enhancers, and information centers about the content, sale and receipt of materials and goods. Other labels become ones of convenience that spell out our personal choices, spending habits, or political leanings. At its best, the right label on the right product in an appropriate moment can be difficult to beat. Not so with people.

The human labels we use, and too often abuse, are the kind that leave little room for the huma...