Hey peeps,
If you haven't heard the podcast Code Switch on NPR, I highly recommend it. The latest episode touched on the uses of acronyms such as P.O.C. or B.I.P.O.C. and offered different opinions on what may be labels some of us are offended by and or take pride in being a part of.
I wanted to get your opinions on this as well. As the episode states:
What do we mean when we say "people of color"? Why do some of us identify with that term? Why does it annoy so many other people? Is it time to say RIP to POC? And, if so, is BIPOC the new kid on the block, or is that term also one we should be careful about using?
What are your thoughts?
First, I think if anyone intends to use acronyms and labels, they need to research and understand what they mean and use them appropriately. I also think it depends where you live in the world. I tend to favor BIPOC more because it IS more inclusive and here in the U.S., Black and Indigenous people are continually erased and neglected from American society. We live in a white-centric society so I think these acronyms and labels serve as an additional reminder that WE ARE HERE and WE MATTER. I also believe these acronyms help to build and strengthen non-white communities. I personally don't have an issue with either, but I do think the media and everyday people can get lazy when using these terms. My suggestion is be specific! If you are talking about Black issues, say Black- same goes for Indigenous-Americans, Latinx, Asian-American, etc. Each race has a history and a voice and we don't want to overshadow that. Thanks for the podcast recommendation and for bringing this topic forward!
I completely agree with the "being specific" part you mentioned. This has made me think about how the use of these acronyms can promote laziness for those who don't want to do the work to get to know the person you are referring to or the group you are referring to. Take the time to ask how a person identifies and then proceed with that. Do the work to know which group you are referring to and name them specifically. If you're talking about mass incarcerations, do you mean to reference only Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people who are disproportionally affected, or do you actually mean to reference all non-whites? It really does make a difference, right?
Yes it really does matter! I also agree - do the work! I don't know how many times I've been mistaken for Latina, because someone was either afraid or too lazy to ask about me. It doesn't bother me too much, but I am proud of my race. I think part of my responsibility as a BIPOC is to make sure I don't succumb to a person's "laziness" and make their life more comfortable because of a potential uncomfortable conversation.