Language plays a pivotal role in shaping how we think about race, identity, and power. Terms like ‘Black’, ‘Black and brown’, ‘People of colour’ are more than mere descriptors: they shape how we think about people and the world.
At brap, we’re often asked about these terms and which we prefer. The truth is, we’re constantly debating this issue ourselves.
Below is a behind-the-scenes look at one of these debates. The following are emails between two members of brap staff where they discuss the pros and cons of using the term ‘Black’ (in a political sense to refer to all racially minoritized people) as opposed to talking about ‘Black and brown people’.
Tuesday, 8 Oct, 5:59 AM
Subject: Thinking About ‘Black’
Hi Mo
I’ve been thinking about our conversation yesterday. You made a good point about the term ‘Black and brown’ being more inclusive, but I still feel strongly about the political power of using ‘Black’ as a collective term for all racially minoritized groups. Historically, ‘Black’ has been a radical, unifying force—it’s about rejecting the white gaze and standing together against white supremacy.
I’m not sure if the distinction between ‘Black’ and ‘brown’ is always helpful. I worry that using these terms separately reinforces divisions between us, when the real issue is the system of racism that targets all of us, albeit in different ways. I know that proximity to whiteness shapes how different communities experience racism, but I wonder if breaking us up into smaller categories weakens our collective struggle. What do you think?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Best,
Angela
Tuesday, 8 Oct, 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: Thinking About ‘Black’
Hello Angela
Thanks for kicking this off.
I totally get what you’re saying, but I think there’s a reason why ‘Black and brown’ has emerged in recent years, and I find it valuable. While ‘Black’ is powerful, especially as a political identity rooted in the equalities movement (and, I think, the civil rights movement in America?), I feel like it’s important to recognize that not everyone who faces racial oppression identifies as Black. By saying ‘Black and brown,’ we’re making room for the specific experiences of groups like South Asians, who face different racial dynamics than those who are darker-skinned.
Word are not neutral; they carry the weight of history, and understanding their impact is key to anti-racist thinking. As you’ve told me, European colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade created racial hierarchies, with whiteness placed at the top as the ideal, and all other ethnicities ranked by their perceived proximity to this whiteness. Those closer to this ideal—often lighter-skinned individuals—were afforded more privileges, while those farther away, particularly dark-skinned individuals, were dehumanized and oppressed
I think this idea of ‘proximity to whiteness’ is one of the central insights of anti-racism. I think it explains a lot today about who is valued, beauty standards, who and what is regarded as ‘professional’, and so on.
By using ‘Black and brown,’ we’re acknowledging these nuances and being more precise in our anti-racist efforts. I think the differences matter!
What do you think?
Best,
Mo
Tuesday, 8 Oct, 4:10 PM
Subject: Re: Thinking About ‘Black’
Hey Mo,
You raise some great points—I agree that proximity to whiteness is crucial to understanding how racism works differently for various communities. I see what you mean about specificity being useful, especially when we’re talking about colourism. Lighter-skinned people, both Black and non-Black, definitely have a different relationship to white supremacy than darker-skinned people.
But here’s where I’m still stuck: if we start splitting people into ‘Black’ and ‘brown’ (and maybe even more categories beyond that), aren’t we at risk of reinforcing these divisions? Race is a social construct, and these categories—Black, brown, white—were invented to divide us in the first place. I’m worried that by using these terms, we’re actually playing into the hands of the same system that created these hierarchies.
Using ‘Black’ in a broader sense helps us resist that divide-and-conquer tactic.
I’m curious what you think about this—how do we acknowledge difference without falling into the trap of reinforcing the divisions we’re trying to dismantle?
Talk soon,
Angela
Wednesday, 9 Oct, 10.03 AM
Subject: Re: Thinking About ‘Black’
Hey Angela,
You’re right that we need to be cautious about not reinforcing the same divisions white supremacy created. The last thing we want is to play into that strategy.
I think for me, using a term like ‘Black and brown people’ is a recognition of the artificial hierarchy that was created – we’re using the term precisely because, in today’s society, we have to think about whiteness and proximity to whiteness when thinking about racialised experiences.
I think the challenges of the equalities movement today are different to what they were in the past. Then, it was struggle for legal equality, a fight against direct discrimination. Today, we are trying to get beyond the idea that racism is a prejudice individuals have against particular groups. Instead, we’re trying to help people see that we/they are socialised into a system and way of thinking. So it helps to focus on how that systems values specific skin colours. If that’s the right way of putting it.
I see your point about solidarity, but I wonder if there’s a way to hold both truths? I think ‘Black and brown’ helps us keep those nuances visible while still standing together against white supremacy.
I’d love to hear how you think we can navigate this tension!
Best,
Mo
Wednesday, 9 Oct, 11:04 AM
Subject: Re: Thinking About ‘Black’
Hi Mo,
I think you’re onto something with the idea of holding both truths. You’re right that these social constructs have real effects, and we can’t ignore that. I guess my concern has always been that by creating these distinctions, we’re feeding into a system that ranked us based on proximity to whiteness in the first place. The darker you are, the farther from whiteness, and the harsher your oppression. That hierarchy was designed to divide us. And I don’t want us to end up reinforcing that structure, even unintentionally.
That said, I don’t want to minimize the experiences of communities that have a different relationship to racism. A lot of this depends on context. At brap, we still generally talk about ‘people of colour’ or ‘racially minoritised people’, depending on what makes more sense.
One idea I’ve been thinking about: maybe it’s not just about the terms we use, but how we talk about them. We can say ‘Black’ in a way that acknowledges the diversity of experiences within that identity, or we can use ‘Black and brown’ while emphasizing our shared struggle. The challenge is finding language that doesn’t reinforce the very hierarchies we’re trying to dismantle, but also doesn’t erase the real differences that proximity to whiteness creates.
It reminds me of Audre Lorde’s line about the master’s tools. The language we use was created in a racist system, and while we need these tools to communicate, we also need to be aware of their limits.
Maybe there’s no perfect solution here—language itself is flawed, especially when it comes to talking about race. But as long as we keep having conversations like this, questioning the words we use and the systems they come from, we’re at least moving in the right direction.
Best,
Angela
Wednesday, 9 Oct, 4:01 PM
Subject: Re: Thinking About ‘Black’
Hey Angela,
That’s a really good point! Maybe the solution isn’t so much about choosing one term over the other, but rather about being intentional in how we use the language we have. You’re right—whether we say ‘Black,’ ‘Black and brown,’ or ‘people of colour,’ what matters most is the context in which we’re using these terms and making sure we’re not erasing differences or reinforcing divisions.
Take care,
Mo
Wednesday, 9 Oct, 4:55 PM
Subject: Re: Thinking About ‘Black’
Mo, I couldn’t agree more. The tools we have aren’t perfect, but they’re what we’ve got for now—and questioning them is the key. This has been a great conversation for me, too. I think you’re right, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, but being aware of the limitations of language and the histories behind the words we use is a big step forward.
Let’s keep the conversation going—there’s always more to explore.
Best,
Angela
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