S/o from another thread. What does POC mean to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Latina and don’t identify as a “poc” because to me, it’s code for black.

You are one.

White people think you are a Person of color.

Is the white skinned middle easterner also a poc?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's any person who is not considered white. Someone asked about Italians. I consider them white.

+1 Europeans are considered white. Some may have darker skin, but they are considered "white". Would you really consider someone like Giuliani a POC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Latina and don’t identify as a “poc” because to me, it’s code for black.

You are one.

White people think you are a Person of color.

Is the white skinned middle easterner also a poc?

Yes

That's a gray area.. pardon the pun. Persians are considered white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who isn't white.

+1

Middle easterner here. I have white skin and green eyes. Would it be appropriate for me to identity as a POC?

NP. I’d have to see you in person to tell. Everyone has a different definition of POC. However, I do not consider it a euphemism for being from elsewhere. It’s not a euphemism for having a non-white culture. It literally means in its most basic sense a person who does not have white skin. If you are from elsewhere (Brazil, Middle
East etc), you are not a POC unless you have brown/tan skin. It doesnh refer to language. It doesn’t refer to culture.

MANY men and women will feel like POC because it captures their culture, language and identity, but if you have white skin and benefit from “blending” in then you’re really not a POC. You don’t experience the exclusion that comes with darker skin. I know many people will disagree with me, it’s an ambiguous terms so it’s not surprising there are different takes.

[Anonymous]

It's a politically loaded term for people who aren't white. It's like saying "lived experience" as opposed to "my experience" or "my truth" instead of "the truth." Meaning, it is intended to reinforce a mindset that is relatively new (that the world is divided into white people + western culture on one side and everyone else on the other).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who isn't white.

+1

Middle easterner here. I have white skin and green eyes. Would it be appropriate for me to identity as a POC?

This is the hard one! I'm also Middle Eastern with light skin, but I'm not first generation immigrant, and my family is from a Christian rather than Muslim culture. All of that to say, I am treated as a white person in the US, so I do not identify or experience life as a POC. (Although Jewish people who ID me as "ethnic" tend to ask if I'm Jewish, and "are Jewish people POC" is a whole related thing.) But you might, if you regularly felt othered for your language or religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who isn't white.

+1

Middle easterner here. I have white skin and green eyes. Would it be appropriate for me to identity as a POC?

NP. I’d have to see you in person to tell. Everyone has a different definition of POC. However, I do not consider it a euphemism for being from elsewhere. It’s not a euphemism for having a non-white culture. It literally means in its most basic sense a person who does not have white skin. If you are from elsewhere (Brazil, Middle
East etc), you are not a POC unless you have brown/tan skin. It doesnh refer to language. It doesn’t refer to culture.

MANY men and women will feel like POC because it captures their culture, language and identity, but if you have white skin and benefit from “blending” in then you’re really not a POC. You don’t experience the exclusion that comes with darker skin. I know many people will disagree with me, it’s an ambiguous terms so it’s not surprising there are different takes.

I agree with you about blending in, but I really don't think "it doesn't refer to language, it doesn't refer to culture" is an idea that just reinforces a binary idea of race rather than looking at the complexity of lived experience in a multicultural nation. Shorter version, a lot of people from the Middle East and Latin America don't fit so neatly into one box or the other.

[Anonymous]

The most tried and true method is the pantone racial color card. Anything less than a 4 and you're white, above 4 is POC. I keep mine in my purse in case I'm confused; I just hold it up to someone discretely and then I know. Sometimes, in the summer, it can be misleading due to tans. This is why some white people become victims of oppression in the summer months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who isn't white.

+1

Middle easterner here. I have white skin and green eyes. Would it be appropriate for me to identity as a POC?

NP. I’d have to see you in person to tell. Everyone has a different definition of POC. However, I do not consider it a euphemism for being from elsewhere. It’s not a euphemism for having a non-white culture. It literally means in its most basic sense a person who does not have white skin. If you are from elsewhere (Brazil, Middle
East etc), you are not a POC unless you have brown/tan skin. It doesnh refer to language. It doesn’t refer to culture.

MANY men and women will feel like POC because it captures their culture, language and identity, but if you have white skin and benefit from “blending” in then you’re really not a POC. You don’t experience the exclusion that comes with darker skin. I know many people will disagree with me, it’s an ambiguous terms so it’s not surprising there are different takes.

Agree with this. Unfortunately, our society judges you based on your skin color, and you get treated accordingly. That colors your experience, pardon the pun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who isn't white.

+1

Middle easterner here. I have white skin and green eyes. Would it be appropriate for me to identity as a POC?

NP. I’d have to see you in person to tell. Everyone has a different definition of POC. However, I do not consider it a euphemism for being from elsewhere. It’s not a euphemism for having a non-white culture. It literally means in its most basic sense a person who does not have white skin. If you are from elsewhere (Brazil, Middle
East etc), you are not a POC unless you have brown/tan skin. It doesnh refer to language. It doesn’t refer to culture.

MANY men and women will feel like POC because it captures their culture, language and identity, but if you have white skin and benefit from “blending” in then you’re really not a POC. You don’t experience the exclusion that comes with darker skin. I know many people will disagree with me, it’s an ambiguous terms so it’s not surprising there are different takes.

I agree with you about blending in, but I really don't think "it doesn't refer to language, it doesn't refer to culture" is an idea that just reinforces a binary idea of race rather than looking at the complexity of lived experience in a multicultural nation. Shorter version, a lot of people from the Middle East and Latin America don't fit so neatly into one box or the other.

No one does really. But those folks that aren't neat in a box have to choose if they want to be IN or OUT of the tent. Still a matter of belonging and what you're willing to give up for that belonging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had an interesting conversation at work about this once. Group of coworkers went to a seminar/workshop for POC in our industry. Two White Latinas showed up and the group was upset. The White Latinas interpreted POC to include all Hispanics, both white and non-white. Everyone else said it’s solely about skin color. Having white skin, regardless of your ethnicity, means you are afforded white privilege.

That’s not always true about being “afforded white privilege — particularly for Black people with light skin, even with blond hair and blue eyes. Sometimes this comes with a different kind of racism— when (white) people feel tricked or somehow deceived because they made assumptions that turn out to be wrong.

Yes, but I think their point was about how you are treated based solely on your skin color, not taking into account information about race or ethnicity you may gather later. For example, the commonly used scenario of a white woman who crosses the street when passing a black man. Would she still cross the street if she were passing a white Latino man? No other factors at play — just skin color.

So you’ve decided now that “white privilege” ONLY means the briefest of encounters absent any other information?
How very “white” of you. Your scenario sounds like it comes from the first gentle lesson of a mandatory “diversity training” workshop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The most tried and true method is the pantone racial color card. Anything less than a 4 and you're white, above 4 is POC. I keep mine in my purse in case I'm confused; I just hold it up to someone discretely and then I know. Sometimes, in the summer, it can be misleading due to tans. This is why some white people become victims of oppression in the summer months.

Lmao 😂😂😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who isn't white.

+1

Middle easterner here. I have white skin and green eyes. Would it be appropriate for me to identity as a POC?

NP. I’d have to see you in person to tell. Everyone has a different definition of POC. However, I do not consider it a euphemism for being from elsewhere. It’s not a euphemism for having a non-white culture. It literally means in its most basic sense a person who does not have white skin. If you are from elsewhere (Brazil, Middle
East etc), you are not a POC unless you have brown/tan skin. It doesnh refer to language. It doesn’t refer to culture.

MANY men and women will feel like POC because it captures their culture, language and identity, but if you have white skin and benefit from “blending” in then you’re really not a POC. You don’t experience the exclusion that comes with darker skin. I know many people will disagree with me, it’s an ambiguous terms so it’s not surprising there are different takes.

Agree with this. Unfortunately, our society judges you based on your skin color, and you get treated accordingly. That colors your experience, pardon the pun.

+100. I have a biracial cousin who looks more black than white. Try as he does to reap the benefit of ambiguity, it does not work. The world sees him as Black. Yet, his sister, who has the same parents as him, came out lighter with blue eyes/straight hair and successfully plays the ambiguity card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Latina and don’t identify as a “poc” because to me, it’s code for black.

You are one.

White people think you are a Person of color.

Is the white skinned middle easterner also a poc?

Yes

That's a gray area.. pardon the pun. Persians are considered white.

Persians are white though other middle easterners are not? Huh?

Also what about Jewish people. I’m Jewish but have been told by several of my friends who are that they do not consider themselves to be white.

And what about these girls? https://www.cnn.com/2015/03/03/living/feat-black-white-twins/index.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Latina and don’t identify as a “poc” because to me, it’s code for black.

You are one.

White people think you are a Person of color.

Is the white skinned middle easterner also a poc?

Yes

That's a gray area.. pardon the pun. Persians are considered white.

Persians are white though other middle easterners are not? Huh?

Also what about Jewish people. I’m Jewish but have been told by several of my friends who are that they do not consider themselves to be white.

And what about these girls? https://www.cnn.com/2015/03/03/living/feat-black-white-twins/index.html

Meant I’m “not”