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People of color

The term "people of color" encompasses individuals who are non-White and non-Anglo, representing a diverse array of ethnic minorities that have historically faced discrimination from the dominant majority group. This inclusive term covers a broad spectrum of identities, including African Americans, Asian Americans, Indigenous peoples of America, and Latino individuals such as Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and others from Central and South America, regardless of how some may self-identify. It is considered a neutral and respectful designation, aimed at acknowledging the unique experiences and challenges faced by these groups. The term can also be gendered, resulting in "men of color" and "women of color," which highlights the distinct experiences shaped by both ethnicity and gender. Notably, women of color may encounter compounded discrimination based on their race and gender, leading to unique social and economic challenges. Understanding the context of this term can foster deeper discussions about race, identity, and social justice.

Full Article

The term "people of color" refers to non-White, non-Anglo ethnic minorities who historically have been the victims of discrimination by the dominant majority group. The concept is inclusive of all people whose skin color or other physical features are not commonly perceived as White features. The term specifically includes African Americans, Asian Americans, Indigenous Americans, and Mexican Americans, and other Latino people such as Puerto Ricans and Central and South Americans (even though many of them self-identify as “White”). The term “people of color” is neither politically loaded nor derogatory; in fact, it is both neutral and respectful in referring to the combination of these ethnic and racial groups.

The term is often broken down to “men of color” and “women of color” to refer to groups of men or women, respectively, who are from the ethnic and racial groups noted above. The experiences of both of these groups, although they overlap with the experiences of the general population, are different in several important ways from those of White people, as well as from each other. Women of color, for example, often experience the discriminatory consequences of both ethnicity and gender. People of color who identify with alternative genders have an even more complicated situation.


Bibliography

Malesky, Kee. "The Journey from 'Colored' to 'Minorities' to 'People of Color.'" NPR, 30 Mar. 2014, www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/03/30/295931070/the-journey-from-colored-to-minorities-to-people-of-color. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Ratts, Manivong J., and Paul B. Pedersen. "Using Appropriate Terminology." Counseling for Multiculturalism and Social Justice: Integration, Theory, and Application. 4th ed., Alexandria: Amer. Counseling Assn., 2014, pp. 85–8.

Sen, Rinku. "Minorities? Try 'People of Color.'" CNN, 18 May 2012, www.cnn.com/2012/05/18/us/opinion-minorities-try-people-of-color/index.html. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Starr, Paul, and Emily P. Freeland. “‘People of Color’ as a Category and Identity in the United States.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, vol. 50, no. 1, 2024, pp. 47–67, doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2023.2183929. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Torrez, Brittany. “’People of Color’ Is Supposed to Unite Racial Minorities-But Is It?” Yale University, 1 Mar. 2022, isps.yale.edu/news/blog/2022/03/%E2%80%9Cpeople-of-color%E2%80%9D-is-supposed-to-unite-racial-minorities-%E2%80%93-but-is-it. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Full Article

The term "people of color" refers to non-White, non-Anglo ethnic minorities who historically have been the victims of discrimination by the dominant majority group. The concept is inclusive of all people whose skin color or other physical features are not commonly perceived as White features. The term specifically includes African Americans, Asian Americans, Indigenous Americans, and Mexican Americans, and other Latino people such as Puerto Ricans and Central and South Americans (even though many of them self-identify as “White”). The term “people of color” is neither politically loaded nor derogatory; in fact, it is both neutral and respectful in referring to the combination of these ethnic and racial groups.

The term is often broken down to “men of color” and “women of color” to refer to groups of men or women, respectively, who are from the ethnic and racial groups noted above. The experiences of both of these groups, although they overlap with the experiences of the general population, are different in several important ways from those of White people, as well as from each other. Women of color, for example, often experience the discriminatory consequences of both ethnicity and gender. People of color who identify with alternative genders have an even more complicated situation.


Bibliography

Malesky, Kee. "The Journey from 'Colored' to 'Minorities' to 'People of Color.'" NPR, 30 Mar. 2014, www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/03/30/295931070/the-journey-from-colored-to-minorities-to-people-of-color. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Ratts, Manivong J., and Paul B. Pedersen. "Using Appropriate Terminology." Counseling for Multiculturalism and Social Justice: Integration, Theory, and Application. 4th ed., Alexandria: Amer. Counseling Assn., 2014, pp. 85–8.

Sen, Rinku. "Minorities? Try 'People of Color.'" CNN, 18 May 2012, www.cnn.com/2012/05/18/us/opinion-minorities-try-people-of-color/index.html. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Starr, Paul, and Emily P. Freeland. “‘People of Color’ as a Category and Identity in the United States.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, vol. 50, no. 1, 2024, pp. 47–67, doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2023.2183929. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Torrez, Brittany. “’People of Color’ Is Supposed to Unite Racial Minorities-But Is It?” Yale University, 1 Mar. 2022, isps.yale.edu/news/blog/2022/03/%E2%80%9Cpeople-of-color%E2%80%9D-is-supposed-to-unite-racial-minorities-%E2%80%93-but-is-it. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

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