people of color
Noun 1. A collective term for individuals who are not considered white, especially those with non-European ancestry or skin pigmentation. This term emphasizes shared experiences of racialization and marginalization within societies historically dominated by people of European descent. It is often used as a positive, unifying term of solidarity.
- The organization's leadership is committed to amplifying the voices of people of color.
- The study focused on the economic disparities faced by people of color in the healthcare system.
- This anthology features writers who are people of color.
- "People of color" (POC) is commonly used as an umbrella term. It is important to note that it groups together many distinct ethnic and racial identities (e.g., Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous). When possible and specific, naming the particular community is often preferred.
- The term is primarily used in a U.S. context to describe non-white groups within a racial framework shaped by U.S. history. Its applicability and meaning can differ in other national or global contexts.
- Person of color (singular): The singular form of the term.
- She was the first person of color elected to the council.
- BIPOC (Acronym): Stands for Black, Indigenous, and (Other) People of Color. This variant is used to specifically highlight the unique historical experiences of Black and Indigenous peoples alongside other racialized groups.
- Racial minorities: A more formal demographic term focusing on numerical minority status within a population.
- Non-white: A descriptive term, though it can be seen as defining groups in relation to whiteness.
The provided reference definition, "a race with skin pigmentation different from the white race (especially Blacks)," is an outdated and overly simplistic framing. Modern understanding emphasizes that: 1. "People of color" refers to many distinct races and ethnicities, not a single race. 2. While skin pigmentation is often a factor in racialization, the term encompasses groups for whom racial categorization is based on other factors like ancestry and ethnicity. 3. The parenthetical "(especially Blacks)" is misleading, as the term explicitly includes, but is not limited to, Black people.
- a race with skin pigmentation different from the white race (especially Blacks)