There is an under-discussed sub-text there, surely?
That is :
Is air-brushing history ever a moral or virtuous act?
If so, how do we differentiate between good airbrushing and bad airbrushing? Dog names and grave inscriptions for example.
As matters stand we have the twee phrases "n-word", "c-word", "p-word". There may eventuallly be another 23 varieties, or even N1, N2 etc. These "words" have trodden in the sanitised footsteps of bogs, Crappers and khazis through loo, lavatory, WC, toilet to the unspeakably coy "bathroom".
Surely much better to write the words, say the words and always acknowledge that then was then, now is now and we [most of us who aspire to decency] have moved on.
If not, we risk bequeathing a saccharine sweet view of the past to the future. That is not progress, but dishonesty.