THE POC USAGE DEBATE: WHEN SHOULD THE TERM BE USED?

Some say using the term “POC” ignores group-specific needs and experiences. Some say the unity is a necessary part of using the term, as it connects the shared oppression from European colonizers.

HERE’S WHAT I THINK:

WHEN IT SHOULD NOT BE USED

When a movement or conversation is about one specific group, such as African or Arabic, then the term POC is not necessary. This is best exemplified by the Black Lives Matter movement because in that situation, it was obviously black lives that were more often at risk than others.

Most other POC had no issue with focusing on black lives, because it was understood who was more often at risk, and also that any effort to punish murderous police would by extension benefit all POC anyway.

The only people who took issue with saying “black” were bigoted white people who claimed the movement suggested that white lives or “blue” lives did not matter. *insert eye roll*

The same goes for the movement #NoBan and #NoWall; the Muslim ban most often impacted people from Arabic nations, while the Border Wall debate obviously more often affects people of Latin descent (Indigenous, Mestizo and Afro Latin descent equally so).