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We've all heard the phrase “people of color” (POC), which is basically a term used to describe any “non-European” person. This term does no harm, but I believe it really does not do the Black community any good in the aggregate. America is in a very critical juncture at this current moment; we're dealing with an administration that has a poor track record with minority groups and has made almost zero effort to mend any grievances. We're also dealing with a spike in reported hate crimes against minorities. Police brutality is still occurring although it's receiving less news coverage; we, as the Black community, are still working towards advancing our civil rights and building upon the progress that we have made in recent years.

However, we're still being dispatched to put out other fires that doesn’t necessarily happen in our community. The term POC encompasses us and many other groups, and when these groups are put on the spot, the Black community, given our history with civil rights, are often asked to stand in solidarity with these groups. We also have our prominent leaders speak out on behalf of the afflicted groups.

In America the odds have historically never been in our favor, but if we're going to continue upward, we are going to have to zero in and focus on us. Granted we are all in this together as minorities, but I believe we still have an unwavering obligation to our own people.

This issue of "solidarity" can also be paralleled with the inclusivity of the feminism movement. Although feminist constantly advocate for the closure of the wage gap and are fighting tirelessly for equal pay for equal work, Black women still get the short end of the stick and still do not make as much as their white counterparts.

We, as a community, can continue to fight these battles and stand in solidarity with fellow citizens, but to what avail? Maybe it is time for us to advocate for the rights of "people of color," but now is also the time that we don't forget to fight for our own rights — the rights of Black people.