Person of color

Person of color (plural: people of color ) is a term from the Anglo-American world for people who are against the American mainstream society as non- white and, by reason of ethnic attributions ( "visibility" ) everyday, institutional and other forms of racism feel exposed.

Origin

The term people of color has been a significant feature of the colonial period by the name of free people of color. The first use of the term took place in 1781. The designation have demonstrated the expression of a then unusual constellation in the United States of black land and slave owners. Likewise possessed example, the gens de couleur libres in the French colonies in part through a major social influence and land and slave ownership. Nevertheless, they were under-privileged legally in exchange for the white upper class.

The term citizens of color used Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963., The term people of color was important in the Black Power movement and the founding of the Black Panther Party in the USA. Influenced by radical theorists like Frantz Fanon, activists developed the term people of color and used it in the late 1970s and 80s. The term was also used in conjunction with the American Sundown towns, so the cities, the " all white " boasted as.

Recently, the term is also used in Germany by some political groups and activists.

Criticism

Difference and racial hierarchy would have to be made ​​always visible in the talk about racism. The divisions into " white " and " of Color " would soon appear on labels, labels as stable categories. By the time a proof of the origin of the parents will require to show where the Whiteness concept ceases to be critical. Racism as a social relation, the subject to business cycles and struggles, will invisible. In addition, simple black -and-white dichotomies would not be sufficient to understand differentiated and racist power relations.