Maya Angelou once classified prejudice as “a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.” This quote remains true on the dangers of prejudice. However, the growth of non-White Americans across the country has served as a promising counterbalance to the evils of prejudice. Even more so, the development of the label People of Color (PoC) has taken those victimized by prejudice and now united these people, empowering those historically deemed powerless, foreigners, and inferior. With over 40% of Americans being non-White, according to the currently displayed 2023 U.S Census Bureau data, the make-up of this nation is undergoing serious change. This increase in diversity has not led to greater racial…show more content… PoC membership can provide people of color with a growing sense of community to combat the growing feeling of being disadvantaged due to the color of one’s skin. Continuing, I believe that another explanation for PoC solidarity is the desire to, and the strength that comes from, uniting under a common identity to challenge one’s subordinate position. Strength in numbers, a term popularized by the Golden State Warriors during their historic NBA title runs, is fitting for describing PoC solidarity. When I think of PoC solidarity as a means of challenging the system, I think of the strength provided by the large number of non-White Americans who are willing to band together for such a cause. In Chapter 3, Alyssa Davis, a Black-White American, states, “Socioeconomic status is not race. Being rich doesn’t change the way your skin looks, the way. the world treats you. When you start trying to separate people, you start trying to weaken them.” Davis recognizes that a collective identity, despite socioeconomic differences, racial differences, and language barriers, can help PoC improve their…show more content… However, I believe that the creation of the PoC identity is a shift in this narrative, from minority groups having to “get in where you fit in,” to now being able to embrace their belonging. The beauty of this PoC identity is how successful it has been at uniting people who may not even know each other. Pérez paraphrases Anderson’s famous words, to explain that while racial minorities may never know each other, they still share a sense of communion. This shared sense of belonging and belief that PoC unity is the way to challenge the inferiority placed upon minorities is surely one of the reasons why PoC shows solidarity to one another. There have been numerous real-world examples to support the reasons I have offered as an explanation to why PoC solidarity takes place, and through analyzing these examples, we can learn more about the motives and successes of PoC
