Why we use the term 'Global Majority'

At Homa, we use the term Global Majority as an inclusive alternative to labels like ethnic minority or BAME, which define people in relation to a white majority in the UK. While these communities may be numerically smaller here, they represent around 80% of the world’s population, shifting the story from deficit to strength, connection, and global belonging.

Professor Rosemary Campbell Stephens

The term was first coined by Professor Rosemary Campbell-Stevens MBE, an academic and activist in social justice and education, who introduced it as part of anti-racist and decolonial discourse.

Emerging from anti-racist and decolonial movements, the term challenges Eurocentric hierarchies and highlights the strength, diversity, and cultural richness of these global communities.

We know that identity is deeply personal. Terms such as Black, Brown or People of Colour are powerful and meaningful for many and they don’t always include everyone who experiences racialisation or shares the legacies of colonial history. Global Majority offers a way of speaking about these shared experiences, while making space for all the identities they hold.

At Homa, we use this term mainly in teaching and collective contexts, or when referring to racialised groups as a whole. We do not use it to describe individuals unless they choose it for themselves. We honour and respect the language each person uses to name their own identity.