• In the Resmaa Menakem conversation piece I linked to a while back he talks about how alienating (to POC) the corporate "equality, diversity and inclusion" world that he's often called to speak at, is. He also makes a point of not saying POC but saying "bodies of culture". I think it only really works if you say it like he does though (slowly, poetically), and with as much conviction. I'm not sure I could pull it off.

    I've got used to POC as a catch-all and I think it's been fairly well reclaimed from the more dismissive and derogatory use of "coloured". BIPOC is used more often in the US. BAME is a UK thing as far as I can tell, and it's super awkward. How do you feel being a "minority ethnic"? Since when do you capitalise the "and" in a phrase? By highlighting the minority aspect, it always feels a bit like it's saying "there's not many of you, you're not the mainstream - you're just being awkward, you're causing a problem".

    I don't know if the term "global majority" was a reaction to it, or if it had other roots, but while I understand the re-framing (we are the norm and not the "other") it's also a strange one to use - defining so many multiple people as a proportion. I don't feel like being majority or minority is really that relevant.

    You are right in that we need to be able to talk about this stuff in a useful way. Which is why I think BAME or whatever terms is used, is necessary for now. I do also think it's important to talk about the ways in which words are problematic - not just in terms of words and identity, but other implications (eg. 'colour-blind' diversity being used to maintain discrimination).
    Edited to add: A huge aspect of racism is reliant on people's ability to dehumanise other people - language is a significant part of that.

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