BIPOC - What Does It Stand For?
BIPOC stands for ‘Black, Indigenous, People of Color’ and is now ubiquitous on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. The term aims to emphasize the historical oppression of Black and Indigenous people.
The BIPOC Project states that the term 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 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, the term began to spread on social media. You can view a few examples of tweets 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, Ph.D. (@TraiSpikes_90) 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
🏒✊🏾🖤🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/HQwS3nA5kW
Additional Essays
You can see the following essays below for additional perspectives on 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.
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