Introduction
The concept of BIPOC solidarity is crucial in the fight against systemic racism, particularly in North America, where Black and Indigenous folks have specific relationships with racism and white supremacy. The term BIPOC has emerged to acknowledge the unique experiences of Black and Indigenous people and highlight their hypervisibility and erasure, respectively. It recognizes the need for acknowledgement and understanding of anti-blackness and Native invisibility and how white supremacy is internalized and shows up in specific ways within BIPOC spaces, which impedes efforts to collaborate across differences.
Furthermore, the importance of maintaining group identities and boundaries cannot be overlooked. Still, it is equally essential to emphasize commonalities that blur group boundaries, increase political solidarity, and cultivate anti-racist analysis, knowledge, and practice among a wider group of BIPOC. The use of BIPOC instead of POC, which is believed to have been watered down by white institutions, is preferred by activists and organizers who are more cognizant of the language they use.
Impact
BIPOC solidarity is essential in dismantling systems of oppression and achieving social justice. The concept of solidarity recognizes that oppression is interconnected and that it is necessary for marginalized groups to work together in order to bring about change. Solidarity involves recognizing and addressing the unique experiences and struggles of each group, while also recognizing the shared experiences of systemic oppression. Research has shown that intergroup contact, or interactions between members of different racial and ethnic groups, can lead to greater solidarity and cooperation between groups (Glasford & Calcagno, 2012). Additionally, the idea of “thick solidarity,” which involves recognizing the ways in which different forms of oppression intersect, is important in creating lasting alliances between different marginalized groups (Abad, 2021).
Conclusion
The term BIPOC recognizes the need for acknowledging and understanding the internalization of white supremacy and how it shows up in specific ways within BIPOC spaces. It is crucial to maintain group identities and boundaries, but also to emphasize commonalities to increase political solidarity and cultivate anti-racist analysis, knowledge, and practice among a wider group of BIPOC. Overall, BIPOC solidarity is crucial in creating meaningful change and addressing the complex systems of oppression that affect marginalized groups. Through recognizing shared experiences and working towards a common goal of social justice, solidarity can serve as a powerful force in creating lasting change.
References
Abad, M. N. (2021). “‘I’m Picking a Side’: Thick Solidarity, Antiblackness and the Grammar of the Model Minority.” Race, ethnicity and education, 24(3), 303–318.
Choi, Adriel, and Cheryl L. Dickter. “Allyship behaviors among people of color.” Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology 27, no. 3 (2021): 411-424.
Foster, Krys E, Christina N Johnson, Diana N Carvajal, Cleveland Piggott, Kristin Reavis, Jennifer Y. C Edgoose, Tricia C Elliott, Marji Gold, José E Rodríguez, and Judy C Washington. “Dear White People.” Annals of family medicine 19, no. 1 (2021): 66–69.
Glasford, D. E., & Calcagno, J. (2012). The Conflict of Harmony: Intergroup Contact, Commonality and Political Solidarity Between Minority Groups. Journal of experimental social psychology, 48(1), 323–328.
“The BIPOC Project.” The BIPOC Project, www.thebipocproject.org/.