A visible minority is a person or group visibly not one of the majority race in a given population. The term is used primarily in Canada, as a demographic category by Statistics Canada, in connection with that country's Employment Equity policies. The qualifier "visible" is important in the Canadian context where political divisions have traditionally been determined by language (English vs. French) and religion (Catholics vs. Protestants) - "invisible" traits.
Since the reform of Canada's immigration laws in the 1960s, immigration has been heaviest from areas other than Europe, thus creating visible minorities. Members of visible minorities are defined by the Canadian Employment Equity Act as "persons, other than Aboriginal people, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour." The term is used to address the alleged labour market disadvantage of this group. The American equivalent—"people of color"—is similar, but also includes Aboriginal Americans.
Read more about Visible Minority: Visible Minorities in Canada, Legislative Versus Operational Definitions, Controversy
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