‘BIPOC’ Changed to ‘IBPOC’ by Canadian University, Citing “Unique” Aspect of Indigenous Oppression

On today’s episode of “I Have Nothing Else Happening”… we have returning guest star: Canada!

*cricket sounds*

From The College Fix:

The term BIPOC is a relatively new academic acronym (and if you know educators, you know they love acronyms), but for one Canadian university it’s already outdated.

According to the University of British Columbia’s “Equity and Inclusion Glossary of Terms,” IBPOC is used instead of BIPOC because, apparently, indigenous oppression supersedes everyone else’s.

“[IBPOC] is used in efforts to recognize ‘First Peoples first’ because of the unique history and context of colonization, displacement, and cultural genocide enacted upon Indigenous peoples in Canada, and the ongoing national conversation about reconciliation,” the glossary states.

“It is appropriate to use the term when referring to issues or groups that related to Indigenous, Black and People of Colour,” the glossary continues. “[H]owever, if the subject of discussion does not relate to all three groups, then it may not be appropriate to use IBPOC as a shorthand as that can conflate distinct experiences and realities of each of these groups.”

The glossary points to a 2020 New York Times article on BIPOC which notes that former McGill University professor Charmaine Nelson said “the history of black and Indigenous people in Canada calls for the distinction between them and other people of color.”

Thomas Jefferson School of Law Professor Meera Deo feels similarly and addressed the “hierarchies” that terms like BIPOC (and now, IBPOC) create. In a 2021 Virginia Law Review article, Deo said that BIPOC highlights those included in its first two letters while “all of the other non-white groups within the fold are marginalized by design, grouped together in the leftover people of color section.”

I don’t like this. Apart from it being yet another potential subject to waste money arguing about, BIPOC rolls off the tongue better. IBPOC feels too forced. I said it.

Academics do love to fight about acronyms, so this doesn’t really come as a surprise. It’s a little odd, though, that these people are citing the “unique” aspect of the indigenous story as their reasoning. Aren’t all of these experiences unique? I thought that was the whole thing. I’m probably overthinking it…

I do find this a bit humorous. Only because what I find most annoying about the culture war is the united front put forth by Team Batsh*t…

Some infighting will be good for them. If we’re all going down in flames, I might as well be entertained.