How To Be A Better Ally 101
ART BY @ohhappydani
if the state of our world was a #mood, it’d be one big SMDH for me RN. i’m heartbroken + furious @ the injustice that continues to plague this country. my dear friend, @nicolettemason, who i admire deeply, always says it better than me — “because too many names have become trending topics, because they have been murdered because of the color of their skin, because it takes video evidence for black people’s stories to be told and heard and believed....i also want to acknowledge that, although i am of middle eastern descent, my lived experience is that of a white person + that inherently means i benefit from racism, systemic oppression...but feel it’s better to start somewhere with some clear, albeit imperfect and continuously improving, ways to be a better ally to black people, other POC” + TBH any marginalized community.
1. SELF-EDUCATE: recognizing our own blind spots is pivotal for effective allyship. we’ll never be completely free of bias + that’s not the objective. the goal is to recognize our biases + prevent these biases from manifesting into discrimination.
2. CHECK-IN: provide an ear to listen + a shoulder to cry on. sometimes we shy away from having conversations bc we fear “saying the wrong thing.” provide comfort by checking up on your circle, particularly those who may be overwhelmed + impacted by recent events. BUT, plz respect a person’s privacy + mental health if they don’t have the emotional capacity to share.
3. INNER-CIRCLE CHECK-UP: speak out when we witness those closest to us engaging in problematic + discriminatory behavior. calling out people we love will be challenging. you may experience pushback, discomfort + resistance. but not calling out bad behaviors allows it to continue.
4. GET LOUD: regardless of who u are or what ur sphere of influence looks like, u have a voice u can use. post that video, hit retweet, write an article on @medium—the options are endless.
i’m learning how to be a better ally w/ u. we’ve got a long way to go, but remember—we don’t need a handful of people doing things perfectly; we need millions of people doing things imperfectly.
xo
