Why “BIPOC” Replaced “Minority” this July

By Joy Burkhard, MBA

July was first declared as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in 2008, but this year the mental health advocacy community began adopting a new empowering term “Black, Indigenous and People of Color.”

Mental Health America explains the change as follows:

“The continued use of “minority or marginalized” sets up BIPOC communities in terms of their quantity instead of their quality and removes their personhood…The word “minority” also emphasizes the power differential between “majority” and “minority” groups and can make BIPOC feel as though “minority” is synonymous with inferiority. …The words the mental health community uses need to change in order to help communities understand how these terms create and perpetuate negative images and stereotypes of individuals that identify as BIPOC. By including “BI” Black and Indigenous in addition to “POC” people of color, we are honoring the unique experiences of Black and Indigenous individuals and their communities, as well as the spectrum of existence and experience by POC.”

-Mental Health America

The trauma of racial injustice has significant, long-term impacts on the mental health of BIPOC communities, and these same communities frequently lack access to high-quality, culturally conscious mental health care.

2020 Mom acknowledges these important nuances.

We appreciate our partner, Mental Health America’s extensive list, and resources on BIPOC Mental Health. Check them out here.