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Terms: BIPOC, Black History in Canada
BIPOC
Definition:
BIPOC is an acronym for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour.
Why do some people dislike the term?
“Using the acronym BIPOC suggests an interchangeability in being Black or a person of colour (i.e. Indigenous, South Asian, Korean, Chinese, etc.). There is no interchangeability.
What it does… potentially inadvertently, is that by lumping all these groups together, it comes across as—and suggests—that we are having the same experience. So the acronym BIPOC fails to articulate the differential ways that racialized people experience race and racism.” Why BIPOC Is An Inadequate Acronym, Chatelaine
There are many different forms of racism: Anti-Black racism, Anti-Ingeneniety, Xenophobia, Islamaphobia, AntiAsian, and Anti-Semitism. The term BIPOC is an attempt to encompass all people who experience racism.
Sources:
Chatelaine Why BIPOC is An Inadequate Acronym 2020
Resources:
Resources for Marginalized Communities
Black History in Canada
Definition:
"Black History in Canada encompasses the study, recognition, and celebration of the history, experiences, achievements, and contributions of Black individuals and communities. It acknowledges the rich and diverse narratives of people of African descent and their significant impact on various aspects of society, culture, politics, science, arts, and more.
Within this historical context, it is important to address the existence of slavery in Canada. Slavery in Canada refers to the historical practice of owning and exploiting enslaved Africans and African-descended individuals within Canadian territories. It persisted during the colonial period and was gradually abolished between c. 1629 and 1834 through legislative measures.
After 1834, people of African descent were legally free, but they were not equal: they faced significant racial segregation, discrimination, prejudice, and inequality in Canadian society. The legacy of slavery in Canada has had profound social, economic, and cultural implications." Black History in Canada Education Guide
“The story of African-Canadians spans more than 400 years, and includes slavery, abolition, pioneering, urban growth, segregation, the civil rights movement and a long engagement in civic life.” Lawrence Hill
Sources:
Black History in Canada Education Guide
The Enslavement of African People in Canada (c. 1629–1834)
Resources:
Black History in Canada Education Guide
The story of Black slavery in Canadian history | CMHR