Should we stop using the word "People of Color"?

[Anonymous]

When you say POC, you're separating white people and non-white people. It's like this "us versus them" mentality. The best way to stop racism is to unite people and don't make them seem different each other. That's what I believe.

Yes

No

[Anonymous]

I agree with Morgan Freeman on this issue. Mike Wallace asked him how we get past racism, and he said "stop talking about it. I'm gonna stop calling you a white man and I'm gonna ask you to stop calling me a black man."

But here's the problem: just as a little experiment, I've asked other black people to describe themselves. You'd be amazed at how many have just flatly stated "I'm black". That's it? That's all you can say about yourself? "What else should I say? I'm black." Some of the conversations have been very interesting. I'd like to think I've gotten through to some of them. But when a person can only identify or describe themselves by their race, then any attempt to leave race out of the conversation feels to them like you're erasing their identity. It's a tough issue to tackle.

[TadCurious]

You make a really good point. "People of color" is a nebulous term anyway in the sense that if you're referring to skin all people have some degree of coloration to their skin. But as you astutely point out it's become a trendy term with the intersectional left for the very reason you mention. Also, just what is the significant difference between "people of color" and "colored people"? If we're going to refer to people in this way we should use the more economical two-word term.

[scarlett774]

Being ignorant and blind from a situation doesn’t help or stop anything. It’s like ignoring your problems and pretending they aren’t their which is stupid.

[KatQueen1313]

I feel that I really shouldn't have an opinion on this because I'm white...

[KaylaJoy]

Being colorblind doesn’t fix the problem. We are supposed to appreciate everyone and all cultures.

[Asker]

Yep, it goes back to this colorblind thing. I think it's good to be colorblind because racism is when people nitpick things about other people. For example, I hate the way their faces look, I hate the religion they worship, so and so. That's how racism starts. If we just treat everyone the same and "don't see color," this won't happen. Agree to disagree.

[KaylaJoy]

If you talk to black people, most of them would disagree with the whole idea of being “colorblind.” Firstly, it’s impossible to truly be colorblind. Rather, the majority of them (or at least the ones I’ve talked to about this) have said that instead we should try to actually learn about the people and their cultures, and cultivate a respect and kinship with people and their cultures. They take pride in their culture and history, and to be colorblind is to ignore their very identity. We should still treat them the way we would anyone else, but out of a love for them and a respect for humanity, and not out of “ignoring” their color.

[Barbaric]

No. How else could we separate the good people from the evil people?

[OddBeMe]

In a perfect world skin color wouldn’t matter. But you’re talking about erasing 400 years of black oppression bc you feel guilty today.

[The_Other]

You can't end racism.

[Anonymous]

PoC stands for "pickers of cotton", though.