Is the word folk an insult?

The word "folk" is not generally considered to be an insult, but it can sometimes be used in a derogatory way, particularly when used to refer to a group of people based on their race or ethnicity. For example, the term "folk music" is used to describe traditional music from a particular region or culture, and is not typically seen as offensive. However, the term "folks" can sometimes be used in a negative way to refer to a group of people, such as "those folks over there." In this context, it can be seen as implying that the group is inferior or different in a negative way. Therefore, it is important to consider the context in which the word is used to determine whether it is intended as an insult.