Definition

Noun: 1. A person who is not white or of European descent; a member of a racial or ethnic group that has historically experienced systemic discrimination and marginalization. This is a formal term used primarily in North America to collectively refer to individuals whose racial identity is not solely white, often in contexts discussing race, society, and equity.

Usage

• The term is used in formal, institutional, and academic contexts, such as in demographic surveys, policy discussions, and social justice literature.
• It functions as a collective noun. The plural is persons of color or people of color.
• It emphasizes shared experiences of racism and marginalization while recognizing the vast diversity within the group.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The organization's leadership is committed to amplifying the voices of persons of color.
  • The study focused on the economic disparities faced by people of color in the housing market.
  • She is a prominent advocate for people of color in the technology industry.

Advanced Usage

• "Women of color": A specific term highlighting the intersection of gender and racial discrimination.
  • The conference created a dedicated space for women of color in leadership.
• The term is often used in the context of "BIPOC" (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), which specifies and centers the unique experiences of Black and Indigenous peoples alongside other people of color.

Variants and Related Words

• Person of colour: The British English spelling variant.
• POC: A common initialism for "person/people of color."
• BIPOC: An acronym for "Black, Indigenous, and People of Color."

Synonyms

• Racial minority: A more demographic-focused term, but it can be less accurate in global or regional contexts where white people are not the majority.
• Non-white: A simpler descriptive term, but it can be seen as defining groups in relation to whiteness.

Important Notes

• The term is a social-political identifier, not a biological one. It groups people based on shared social experiences.
• While useful for coalition-building and discussing systemic issues, it should not erase the distinct histories, cultures, and identities of the many groups it encompasses (e.g., Black, Asian, Latino, Indigenous peoples).
• Individual preference varies; some individuals may prefer to be identified by their specific ethnic or racial group (e.g., Korean American, Navajo, Afro-Latina) rather than the broader umbrella term.

Noun

1. (formal) any non-European non-white person