BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color):

 Why in News ? The Terms  BIPOC &  IPLC were recently  in news .

While both terms—BIPOC and IPLC—revolve around marginalized groups and identity, they operate in very different spheres. BIPOC is a term centered on social justice and racial dynamics, whereas IPLC is a technical term used in global environmental and human rights policy.

BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color):

This acronym emerged primarily in North America (USA and Canada) to shift the conversation around racial equity.

• Focus: Racial Justice. It highlights the specific experiences of systemic racism.
• The “BI” logic: It places Black and Indigenous people at the front to acknowledge that while all “People of Color” face prejudice, Black and Indigenous folks have faced unique, historically rooted structural erasure (slavery and genocide/colonization).
• Usage: Used in social activism, corporate diversity (DEI), and academic discussions about race.
• Scope: Includes anyone who does not identify as White, with a specific emphasis on the unique struggles of the Black and Indigenous experience.

IPLCs (Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities):

This is an international legal and environmental category used by organizations like the United Nations (UN) and the IPCC.

• Focus: Stewardship and Land Rights. It recognizes people based on their relationship with the environment and traditional knowledge.
• The “LC” logic: The term “Local Communities” is added to “Indigenous Peoples” to include groups who may not meet the strict legal definition of “Indigenous” but have lived on and protected their land for generations (e.g., certain forest-dwelling communities in India or traditional fishing villages).
• Usage: Used in international treaties, climate change negotiations (COP), and biodiversity conservation.
• Scope: It is less about “race” and more about land tenure, traditional lifestyles, and ecological knowledge.

Key Comparison Table:

Why the distinction matters?

A person can be both. For example, an Indigenous person in the US belongs to the BIPOC community in a discussion about police reform, but they are part of the IPLC group when discussing their tribe’s rights to manage a national forest.

The main difference is that BIPOC is about who you are in a racialized society, while IPLC is about how you live and your right to your ancestral territory.