BIPOC stands for ‘Black, Indigenous, People of Color’ and is now ubiquitous on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. The term BIPOC aims to emphasize the historic oppression of Black and Indigenous people.
The BIPOC Project states that BIPOC highlights “the unique relationship to whiteness that Indigenous and Black (African Americans) people have, which shapes the experiences of and relationship to white supremacy for all people of color within a U.S. context”.
History of BIPOC
First Tweet (2013)
According to the New York Times, the first tweet using BIPOC is dated July 31, 2013 by an account titled @GrindToronto.
Shout out to @EricPride @ToTNG @MissHC @Aim_4_Greatness & @headonist Thanks for supporting/following us #GrindToronto #BIPOC #Toronto
— GRIND (@GrindToronto) July 31, 2013
After the horrific killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police Department, BIPOC began to spread on social media. You can view a few examples of tweets using BIPOC below.
Examples of BIPOC in Use Today (2020)
Just a reminder as we start August. ✨ Visit https://t.co/PMuVfekn7k to learn more. #bipocmentalhealthmonth pic.twitter.com/ByzzFc9Y6T
— Mental Health America (@MentalHealthAm) August 1, 2020
Code switching is essential skill for #BIPOC and #LGTB people. Why is that? Here I discuss how code switching has negatively impacted me and my students. #BlackLivesMatter#BlackInSTEM #BlackInTheIvoryTower https://t.co/KiyeJzQBAD
— Trai Spikes (@Montrai_56) June 26, 2020
I #Kneel4Hockey because BIPoC and LGBTQ hockey players, coaches, staff members and fans deserve to be seen, heard and included. #BlackLivesMatter #HockeyIsForEveryone #TakeWarning
— Chris Moore (@Chris_Moore26) July 31, 2020
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Essays on BIPOC
You can the following essays below for additional perspectives on the term BIPOC. If you have any additional essays you would like added to this list, feel free to leave a comment or message me on twitter.
Why the term “BIPOC” is so complicated, explained by linguists – Vox
Where Did BIPOC Come From? – New York Times
What Does BIPOC Stand For? What the Phrase Means and Why It’s So Important – Parade