How To Be A Good White Ally
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” - Martin Luther King Jr.
by KATE WALKER ★ JUNE 14, 2020
The death of George Floyd, yet another black individual who was wrongfully murdered by a police officer, has sparked protests and riots fighting against police brutality and supporting the efforts of the Black Lives Matter movement. Amidst this battle against racism in America, the topic of white privilege and what being a “good ally” looks like is a key point of conversation, and is vital for the transformation that this country desperately needs.
It is unjust for people with privilege to remain silent during times like these, and it is not enough for people, specifically white individuals, to simply say they’re not racist. We need to be proactively anti-racist and support people of color and specifically the Black community, and here are just a few ways to do so.
Credit: Pinterest
Recognize your privilege:
Before white people can wholeheartedly support the Black community, there needs to be a mutual understanding about the privilege white people hold solely due to their race. According to the Washington Post, white privilege is “the level of societal advantage that comes with being seen as the norm in America, automatically conferred irrespective of wealth, gender, or other factors.”
This does not suggest that white people are not subject to enduring hardships. It is also not an assumption that a white person’s accomplishments do not consist of hard work. Instead, it means they have the privilege to go jogging, play loud music, be detained by police, and simply be without the fear of being harmed or killed solely because of their skin color.
Day-to-day, I don’t notice my race because it is perceived to be the default in society. As a result, I have the choice to confront racial injustices. Black people do not. We as white people must understand and utilize this privilege and take a stand against racism by actively supporting and amplifying the voices of the Black community.
Credit: Instagram (@mongequentin)
Take action:
Taking action is the only way to evoke real change in our society. We can repost all we want on social media, but the only way to positively impact our country’s institutions is to speak up for what’s morally right and take action accordingly. Although there are countless ways to take action, some effective examples are:
Spread awareness
Spreading awareness means sharing messages and images about the oppression of Black people and other people of color. Social media is an important and powerful platform for such messages as it is an easy and effective way to inform an infinite amount of people. However, it is important to note that sharing footage of Black people’s murder is not beneficialy to the movement and instead, can be traumatic for viewers, specifically the victim’s loved ones and the Black community as a whole.
Spreading awareness and supporting the movement must not end with a simple post. To be a strong white ally, we must spread awareness and inform our family, friends, peers, and even strangers of the reality Black people face in America in our everyday life, not just our virtual life.
Sign petitions
Signing petitions is a super easy and quick way to show your support and make a change. Here are just a few to consider:
Demanding all the officers involved in Floyd’s death are brought to justice
Defund the Minneapolis Police Department
Numbers to text:
Text “JUSTICE” to 668366
Text “FLOYD” to 55156
Text “ENOUGH” to 55156
Donate:
If you are able, here are examples of organizations to donate to:
Minnesota Freedom Fund: This organization has actually been overwhelmed with donations. They included a list of organizations they urge supporters to consider donating to in place of the MFF.
National Police Accountability Project: This group, a project of the National Lawyers Guild, helps people find legal counsel
Campaign Zero: A police reform group that has been working on policy solutions “informed by data and human rights principles.”
Bail funds: Some Twitter users are crowdsourcing lists of local organizations that help bail out protesters who get arrested.
However if you are not able, a woman named Zoe Amir posted a video on youtube where 100% of its ad revenue will be dispersed between various Black Lives Matter organizations. Make sure not to skip the advertisements!
Protest:
Protesting is an extremely powerful and active way to show you support for George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. They are occurring in every major city across the country, as well as in most parts of the world. However, if you chose to attend a protest, be prepared, be safe, and act vigilantly. Attend in groups, wear proper clothes and gear, know your rights, and understand the risk you are putting yourself into.
Educate yourself:
Education is one of the most powerful tools to fight and resist moments of injustice. As white people who have not experienced America through the lens of Black individuals, taking the time to learn and understand America’s racist history and how systemic racism operates in this country is vital to being a good ally. Increasing our awareness and knowledge about inequality within the US is our responsibility, and no one else’s. There is always something new to learn, and always another perspective to listen to and understand.
Here are 13 Books You Should Read About Black Lives
Important Films/TV Series to Watch
Credit: Instagram (@jeninehoward)
Support people of color:
As white people, we have to understand that the oppression and suffering of Black lives is not our story to tell. The color of our skin prohibits us from experiencing discrimination and prejudice against our race. Instead of speaking for black people, it is our responsibility as a strong white ally to support and uplift black voices. This means allowing the space and platform for Black individuals to share their voices and personal experiences. It also means not inflicting violence and destruction at protests, as Black individuals are often blamed for these senseless acts.
Our role in the Black Lives Matter movement is important and necessary to see change. We need to be a part of the conversation, but not the main subject. To be good white allies, we need to take a step back to listen, understand, and assist our Black peers.
Credit: Instagram (@girlfriendsgallery)
Stand up against discriminatory microaggressions:
Donating, spreading awareness, and signing petitions, are all great ways to support this human rights movement. However, to dismantle racism in all of its forms includes, but is not limited to, police brutality against Black lives, is to stand up against discriminatory microaggressions. In our everyday life, we have all been in situations where “socially acceptable” racist and prejudiced comments have been made. As white allies, we cannot tolerate these comments and must actively refute them and educate the perpetrator. To be a good white ally, and ultimately an anti-racist human being, we need to actively work to dismantle covert white supremacy today, and every day. Only by cultivating an anti-racist and informed society will Black lives and people of color be perceived and treated as equals.
Every day we must ask ourselves, why is there a line that determines what racist comments are accepted in society if they are equally as discriminatory? In what ways have I contributed to a racist and unjust society? As white allies, we must constantly challenge ourselves to ask these questions and actively combat discriminatory microaggressions in our everyday lives, especially on college campuses and in classrooms.
Credit: The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood
As white individuals, we will never understand the struggles and discrimination Black people are forced to endure. Nevertheless, we must stand and take on the problems borne of oppression as our own. Until we, as white people, actively fight and advocate for equality within America in all aspects of our life, will we then see change.