Race and Ethnicity

The “great replacement” theory is a white nationalist, antisemitic conspiracy theory alleging that Jews (who are considered nonwhite under this theory) are purposely driving immigrants of color into the US and encouraging interracial marriages, with the ultimate goal of replacing white people. Some proponents of this fringe idea claim it’s meant to suppress white votes and political influence, while others claim it will ultimately wipe out the white race. If necessary to report on this conspiracy theory, it’s important to ground the ideas in the appropriate context: that it is a fringe idea, which is not supported by facts and which has been used as a justification for racist speech and violence.

AAVE, or African American Vernacular English, is a dialect of American English rooted in the language practices of Black Americans. Its distinct grammatical structures, vocabulary, vowel enunciation, tense structure, and pronunciation patterns distinguish it from standard American English. Understanding that AAVE has its own underlying rules and structures can help combat biases of what constitutes “proper” language and ensure someone’s words are being represented fairly and accurately. If using AAVE terms that have gained mainstream use, discussing the origins of those terms, particularly with AAVE speakers, can help avoid cultural appropriation or erasure.

Affirmative action is the name for steps or actions that consider the representation of historically excluded or underserved groups to achieve more equitable access to education, employment, and legal protections. If discussing, especially in an employment context, it’s important to understand that affirmative action policies are not interchangeable with “diversity initiatives” and “equal opportunity employment”; some explanation of the distinctions is helpful for clarity. 

The term African American is used to describe people and cultures of African descent with longstanding roots in the United States. Though African American and Black are often used interchangeably, the former may be understood as a marker of an ethnic and cultural identity as opposed to a strictly racial one. More recent immigrants in particular may identify with country- or ethnicity-specific categories (e.g., “Haitian American,” “Afro-Latine”). As with any such identifier, when necessary and relevant to coverage to include, taking into account an individual’s preferred terms wherever possible ensures coverage accurately reflects how they self-identify.

“Anti-Black” is used to describe actions, attitudes, systems and behaviors geared toward subjugating, dehumanizing, and/or discriminating against Black people or Blackness. When exploring disparities in health, income, education, and more among Black communities, it’s important to explore the effects of anti-Blackness, at both a systemic and an individual level.

Antiracism is active resistance to racist policies and practices. The burden of education about racism and systemic inequities, in this view, should not rest solely on those most directly affected.

AAPI stands for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which includes a vast array of nationalities, cultures, and languages. Some argue that both “AAPI” and “Asian American” flatten and/or erase important cultural, economic, educational, religious, and other differences that exist between groups and communities. Nuanced coverage will take care to explore those differences when and where relevant. Taking into account an individual’s preference and being as specific as possible ensures coverage accurately reflects how someone self-identifies.

Black is the racial term used to describe people with roots in the African diaspora; physical markers that may typically be used to distinguish those considered Black from other racial groups include skin tone and hair texture. Though African American and Black are often used interchangeably, the former may be understood as a marker of an ethnic and cultural identity as opposed to a strictly racial one. Following an individual’s preferences when determining if, when, and how to use either identifier, including the capitalization of Black, ensures coverage reflects how a person self-identifies.