As we approach Black History Month and this year’s theme of reclaiming narratives, it’s a timely opportunity to reflect on the language we use when referring to people from ethnically diverse backgrounds. It’s clear that the terms we use hold significant power, and choosing the right words is an essential part of promoting equality and challenging racial inequalities.
One phrase that has been used widely is “person of colour.” On the surface, this term seems to be an inclusive way of referring to people who are not white. However, it raises an important question: why should whiteness be the default, and everyone else categorised by their difference from it? Where does the concept of “person of colour” even come from?
There’s a potent sense of ‘otherness’ embedded in the term.
It implies that individuals who are Black, Brown, or from other ethnically diverse backgrounds are an anomaly—deviating from what’s perceived as the “norm.”
This linguistic framing reinforces the idea that whiteness is standard, and everyone else is “different” or “less.”
As one individual powerfully expressed: ‘When you refer to me, I’d love to just be Grace, but I appreciate we’re not quite there yet. So until we get there, I’m Black and I’m from the Global majority, or Nigeria if you want to be really specific.’
This perspective captures a crucial point: we need to rethink how we describe people, and the use of the term ‘Global majority’ offers a way forward.
It’s a powerful reminder that globally, the majority of people are not white.
It reframes the narrative, recognising that Black, Brown, and ethnically diverse people are not “minorities” in a global context. Instead, they are part of a vast and diverse global community. The term ‘minorities’ is also critical here, highlighting how structural inequalities, rather than numbers, have relegated ethnically diverse communities to a lesser status.
Reclaiming Our Language
The use of the term ‘Global majority’ shifts the focus from being “different” to acknowledging the power and presence of ethnically diverse communities worldwide.
It rejects the idea that people from these communities are inherently “less than” or outsiders, challenging the systems that continue to treat them as such.
We are not BAME, a term that collapses the unique experiences of Black, Asian, and Ethnically diverse individuals into a single acronym. Nor are we ‘people of colour’, a phrase that centres whiteness as the norm.
We are certainly not ‘coloured’ a term steeped in the painful history of racial segregation and oppression.
This Black History Month, let’s encourage everyone to reclaim the narrative around the labels used to describe Black people, and indeed anyone who isn’t white.
The phrase ‘Global majority’ is not just about numbers; it’s about recognising the dignity, strength, and rich cultural heritage of people around the world. It’s about rejecting terms that diminish or alienate people and embracing language that empowers.
What’s in a Name?
Changing the language we use is just the beginning, but it’s an essential start. When we shift the way we talk about race and identity, we begin to challenge the deep-rooted structures that maintain inequality. We stop seeing people through a lens of deficit, and we start to recognise their full humanity.
So, how does the term ‘Global majority’ sit with you?
Have you adopted it in your own life, and how has it changed your understanding of race and identity?
Let’s continue to push for change. Let’s continue to reclaim the narrative, because words matter, and how we use them can either perpetuate inequality or bring us closer to a world where everyone’s identity is respected, and nobody is othered.