What does BIPOC mean?
BIPOC is an acronym. It stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour. This term began in North America but is now used in many countries, including in Europe. It helps show that Black and Indigenous people often face different and more serious kinds of racism than other non-white people.
Why are Black and Indigenous people named separately?
It is important to name Black and Indigenous people separately. Black communities have faced anti-Black racism, slavery, colonisation, and violence in many parts of the world. Indigenous people have lost land, language, and culture through colonisation and forced removal. Their experiences are not the same as other people of colour. That’s why the BIPOC term helps show these unique struggles.
Who is included in BIPOC?
- Black people: People with Indigenous African ancestry. Their roots come from African communities that have been historically racialised as Black. They may live in many parts of the world and may also have mixed heritage.
- Indigenous people: The first people of a land, such as the Māori in New Zealand, Native American and First Nations in North America, and Indigenous peoples of Latin America (e.g. Quechua, Aymara, Mapuche) and more.
- People of Colour: This includes people from Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Examples:
- Latino/a/x people come from Latin America. They may have mixed Indigenous, African, and European roots. For example, mixed-race Latin Americans, Afro-Latin Americans, and Indigenous Latin Americans. This does not include people from Spain, Portugal, or Italy.
- Roma people are Europe’s largest racialised ethnic group. They have South Asian roots and face racism across Europe.
- Turkish people have roots in both Asia and Europe. Some are racialised, others are not, depending on their background and where they live.
Conclusion
The word BIPOC helps us see the different kinds of racism people face. Some people now prefer the term PGM – People of the Global Majority, because most people in the world are not white. This helps shift focus away from whiteness as “the norm.”
Saved By The Sign (SBTS) is an Irish based intercultural consultancy and social enterprise committed to fostering social inclusion and racial equity within the global Deaf community. Through media, advocacy, and education, SBTS actively builds bridges across cultural divides, empowering Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) Deaf communities and promoting Deaf awareness and cultural understanding. SBTS engages with both Deaf and hearing BIPOC communities, enhancing accessibility and inclusive practices to ensure supportive environments for Deaf people within their cultural contexts. This work is deeply rooted in addressing social exclusion experienced by BIPOC Deaf individuals navigating predominantly white Deaf spaces and their own cultural communities, thereby bridging critical gaps for a more inclusive future.
