Title: BIPOC vs. POC: 9 FAQs About What It Means, Why It Matters, More
Headings: Yes, There’s a Difference Between ‘BIPOC’ and ‘POC’ — Here’s Why It Matters
Yes, There’s a Difference Between ‘BIPOC’ and ‘POC’ — Here’s Why It Matters
What’s the short answer?
What does the acronym ‘BIPOC’ stand for?
Black
Indigenous
People of Color
Where did the acronym ‘BIPOC’ originate?
Why is it needed?
When should you use it?
When shouldn’t you use it?
Can you still use the acronym ‘POC’?
Where can you learn more?
What’s the bottom line?

Content: In the United States alone, 574 recognized Indian Nations exist. It’s always best practice to use specific tribe names when referring to just one or two people or a small group of individuals. People of Color
“People of Color,” as noted above, refers to people who aren’t white. This broad descriptor includes, among others, people from: India
East Asia
Mexico
Hawaii and other Pacific Islands
the Philippines
People of Color face numerous but varied challenges stemming from harmful cultural stereotypes and systemic racism, from the internment of Japanese Americans in concentration camps during World War II to the incarceration of children whose parents were attempting to immigrate to the United States. How to pronounce ‘BIPOC’
Just as you’d want to say someone’s name correctly, it’s important to learn how to pronounce terminology accurately. BIPOC is pronounced “buy pock” (“pock” as in “pocket”). You don’t pronounce each letter separately, so you wouldn’t say “B-I-P-O-C.”
Where did the acronym ‘BIPOC’ originate? Answers to this question vary, but the first use of “BIPOC” appears to date to early to mid-2010s. In early 2020, use of “BIPOC” on social media became more widespread as people began to pay more attention to long-standing police brutality against Black people and call for change.