The abbreviation POC stands for "Person of Color" or, in the plural, "People of Color." This group of people has labeled themselves POC in order to defend themselves against classic ethnic or cultural identity determinations.
Contrary to many prejudices, POC is not a general term for people with a dark or non-white skin color, but rather a person who has had or had to have experiences because of his or her skin color.
Racism plays a large role in this context. Many POC use the designation of People of Color to create a kind of sense of belonging and at the same time to question hierarchies and overcome them.
Racism is (unfortunately) still present in society
The term POC was first developed in the course of the 1960s. While many outsiders think that this is generally a designation for people with a dark or non-white skin color, the true meaning of the abbreviation POC goes much deeper.
Based on the concept, it is possible for many people to feel a little more "protected" and more in the community.
Because: Racism is still present today and in all countries. And even if there are many help and education offers to ensure that POC and "whites" grow together more, there is definitely still a lot of room for improvement.
And this is precisely where the POC designation comes in. For those concerned, it is about setting an example both internally and externally.
Where does the term POC come from?
The name POC comes from America. The American civil rights movement used it in the 1960s. Their aim was to defend themselves against the derogatory term "colored" and to set an example. This was and is about solidarity and showing others "You are not alone!
Thus, more and more people who had to make experiences with racism in the course of time called themselves POC and ultimately showed a new self-confidence to the outside world.
The term POC spilled over more and more to the communities in Germany, especially in recent years. The origin of the term is not clear to many who have not yet dealt with the subject in depth.
In a way, POC can also be seen as a distinction from the word "migrant." The latter is mainly about referring to experiences made during immigration. POC, on the other hand, has a clear reference to racism. What kind of racism the persons concerned have experienced in detail is irrelevant for the designation POC.
The term POC is broader than thought
Strictly speaking, not only African, but also Asian and Latin American people with experiences of racism are subsumed under POC. Currently, there is no direct German translation for Person or People of Color. Nevertheless, the community and the number of people who self-identify as POC has grown significantly over time... in part because the desire for a strong community within the community has continued to grow.
That's really the most beautiful thing about the LGBTQ community everyone has their place here and is welcome 🙂