Opinion: The term ‘people of color’ fails to be properly inclusive of the black community
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April 14, 2020
As a black woman, I naturally look for inclusive spaces and it is beneficial for both my mental health and spiritual development for me to conduct this practice regularly. I can look around my classrooms here at San Diego State and see many people of color comfortably, but there are often very few black students in my classrooms. There have been too many instances where I have been in a room full of people of color, and yet I have been the only black person in the room.
I remember on my first day of my freshman year at SDSU and I was the only black person in my RWS 100 class. It was my first college class ever, so I didn’t know what to expect. But once the class started and I looked around the room, I saw that I was the only person who looked like me. I had never experienced that before. It was only a few minutes into my college career where I naturally felt an incredible amount of pressure to represent all of my people, my beliefs and my history in the classroom.
I tried, of course, to rest in the fact that there were other people of color in my class, but it wasn’t the same and it certainly didn’t help me to adjust any easier. Instead, it was a culture shock that followed me through my college career at SDSU.
In my second class on the first day of my college career, again, I was the only black person in my class, and the pressure to be “the face of the race” was back. Only, this time, it stuck with me and educating my class about the black experience was almost like a duty I had delegated to myself to carry out.
In light of Black Women’s History Month, I want to shed light on a problem not only felt by me but among many in the SDSU black community as well. In an effort to promote diversity on campus, people of color and minority groups are often lumped together by the university administration and other campus officials without even realizing it; but addressing inclusive issues effectively will require specific recognition of black issues and black people.
For me, using the term “people of color” feels like I can’t be my true and authentic self — almost as if I had to hide a crucial part of me or to not tap into the overall essence of my blackness. Describing myself as a “person of color” feels like walking into a space with an apology hanging around my neck for any offense my blackness may cause.
Although each minority group faces its own challenges on a day-to-day basis, a “one size fits all” mentality toward diversity takes away the specific needs of our most vulnerable communities.
The term “person of color” is used in attempts to unify non-white people in their fight for racial justice in America. However, black people are often ignored and looked over when it comes to the allocation of that justice. We aren’t taken seriously. We are laughed at — the butt of the joke — and simply disregarded.
I believe black people are ignored in the discussion of people of color because the term still bases value on one’s proximity to whiteness. Non-white is not synonymous with black. “Women of color” does not mean black, either. Too often, when a person or brand uses these labels, it excludes black people with or without intention. Other minority groups do not face the same challenges and struggles as black people do and people who use these broad terms may not realize that.
I’m not saying the use of the term, “people of color,” itself is absolutely illegitimate because there are plenty of situations where it is appropriate to use the term. For example, if we are talking about why Hollywood should take greater steps for inclusion and diversity, it makes perfect sense to use “people of color” to describe the issue.
However, if we are raising questions about the lack of Caribbean representation, specifically, in films, using “people of color” evades the fixed issue and doesn’t address the problem at hand directly. Specifying the need for more Caribbean representation in film properly centralizes the concerns of the Caribbean film community and articulately explains the matter at hand.
Another reason why the term “people of color” is harmful to black people in particular is because it perpetuates the history of erasing our culture. Many non-black people of color can trace their family to a specific land or country and its associated cultures such as Latin American countries, Asian countries and others. Black people, specifically black Americans, often cannot do the same because of the cultural destruction associated with chattel slavery.
The black experience is a culture defined by defying the odds in the face of adversity. The common fight of all black people — no matter the socioeconomic background — has become our culture as we know it best. White and other non-black people of color are allowed to embrace their cultural identities in a way black people cannot.
I encourage you to use the term “people of color” in the proper context and when you are speaking about or referring to a specific group of people in mind, it is best to simply state which group exactly to avoid a plethora of discrepancies.
Identifying as black, I would prefer to be called black over a “person of color” any day. It’s who I am, I take pride in it and it’s something I cannot change.
Trinity Bland is a sophomore studying journalism. Follow her on Twitter @trinityaliciaa.
I really liked what Trinity had to say here. We should all always work throughout our lives to be better listeners. And not only in circumstances like the ones she describes here, but also as we move on in life as parents and very importantly co-workers.
Give her the mic and listen, we will all be better for it.
Finding and participating in a space that feels inclusive for one’s well-being and mind, body and soul development is crucial. Some ‘Black’ people prefer black-only group sessions. Other ‘Black’ people could not care less and are all about being with like-minded people regardless of their skin colour and, most importantly, receiving the best well-being session for the price that they paid.
I was born and raised in London, England, not a perfect country but it is where my Caribbean parents met and settled, as citizens of the British Commonwealth. From childhood I experienced being different and at times being the only dark skinned child in the class. Yes, the experience was heartbreaking at times; children who do not know better are cruel creatures, but it was a learning curve to life that had made me stronger in being myself in any social circumstance. It stood me well in higher AND further education and in the business world. Not every ‘Black’ person wants to go into higher / further education. Some simply like a basic education and going straight into manual, menial or other seasonal work to help support their family. Sometimes there are obstacles from family members who dislike the idea of a child being smarter than their parents, or families who fear the cost of higher / further education.
I reside in Europe and where I live I am often the only ‘Black’ person in a store or walking down a street. Do I want to see other ‘Black’ wo/men in the area? Yes. And I do. I see the ones who look professional and hold themselves well as they wait for a bus or train to go to work. I also see the ones who are refugees and look impoverished not only in attire but also in mind and body.
I connect with certain types of ‘Black’ people who are strong and resilient in themselves to succeed in Europe AND have a connection to Europe. Like with like. Black, white, red, yellow, brown, NOT everyone can reach back in history and gain some knowledge of their family history. Some people are just not interested and simply want to forge ahead and make something of their life regardless of their skin colour. There are ignorant white people as there are ignorant Oriental people, Indian/Pakistani people and Caribbean people. All around the world.
There is a type of colloquial speaking in the Caribbean and in the UK for people with ‘darker skin hues’ to be called ‘Coloured’. Then there are those that have a fairer skin colouring and have a variety of phrases describing them within the rainbow of African/European/Asian/Caribbean heritage. Some people are old school and have no problem with being called ‘Coloured’, as they define the word for themselves. Some dislike being referred to as ‘Black’. Others have little issue with being called a ‘person of colour’. Some people of colour in the UK choose to trace their heritage back over several centuries, so that they have a foundation of their family history.
For some people being called ‘Black’ is too political/militant. For others it suits them that the term conjures up a stronger, defiant aspect of their cultural awareness. A ‘Black’ person can resemble the Duchess of Sussex to Alek Wek and every hue in between. The distinction between a ‘Black’ person from the Caribbean, or, Nigeria, or, Ghana, or, Tanzania, or, Botswana, or Yemen, or Fiji is important. They all recognise themselves to be culturally different, special and unique and they take pride in the difference. ‘Black / Coloured’ people define being ‘Black / Coloured’ depending upon their individual experiences and family history. Some ‘Black’ people prefer to project their cultural identity by not following the beauty ‘pressures / norms’ to conform to a white ideal of beauty. Whereas some ‘Black’ people have ‘white’ features and have no problem with following ‘white’ beauty ‘pressures / norms’. Others find their own way and lead by example. It is swings and roundabouts. Not all ‘Black’ people are the same across the world. ‘Black’ people will navigate towards other ‘Black’ people that they feel a commonality with and feel inclusive in the company with. Very much in a similar way of finding like-minded individuals who participate in sessions of well-being and mind, body and soul development. One wants to belong and connect with people that they feel an affinity with.
Being a Person of Color doesn’t make anyone less Black, Latinx, or Asian. The term is meant to include all non-whites. It’s totally fine to mention you’re Black and identify that part of one’s identity. When I hear person of color, I don’t think of “Not Black” I think of others who may have similar struggles who are also denied privileges in this world.