Title: BIPOC Meaning | What Is BIPOC, and How Did Its Definition Evolve?
Headings: What Does BIPOC Stand For? Why It’s Important to Know What This Acronym Means
What Does BIPOC Stand For? Why It’s Important to Know What This Acronym Means
Have you been seeing this term a lot lately? Here’s what it means and when you should—and shouldn't—use it.
What is BIPOC?
The benefits of using BIPOC
Some people take offense to the term people of color
Language has immense power
When to stay general and when to get specific
Sources:
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Content: That said, the New York Times traced perhaps its first usage back to a 2013 tweet by a Toronto-based queer, safe-sex activist group. Regardless of when or where people began using the term, its very existence signals its cultural importance in ongoing debates about race, equity, justice, and inclusion. RELATED: Black or African American: Which Term You Should Be Using
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Language has immense power
“Language is a funny thing. It reflects things that are happening in society,” says Weldon, adding that it can sometimes even shape public perception and effect larger change. “ It’s hard to say where we are with regard to [that], but I would hope that having that kind of language at least reflects some efforts to acknowledge the shared struggle.” At the same time, Weldon acknowledges some people who belong to the groups included under the BIPOC umbrella may reject it because they believe the acronym can mask the differences of the communities named if not used correctly. “ If you’re in a context where you’re really referring to Black people, but you’re saying BIPOC, then it becomes almost a euphemism, a way of avoiding terms that may be seen as more controversial,” she explains. “ And that has the effect of perpetuating stereotypes against the very group that we’re trying to uplift.”