Disclaimer: The views in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the opinion of Her Campus.
An ally is someone who is not directly affected by the issue being advocated for but supports that advocacy. For example, A cis heterosexual white man who supports the LGBTQ+ movement or the Black Lives Matter movement would be an ally. Allies are essential to the success of any movement but every ally should be aware of their position within a movement and understand that although they may feel very passionately about the issue, they are not the center of the story. Here are five ways to help make you a more conscious ally:
1. Evaluate your intentions.
The first step is to make sure you are doing all this for the right reasons. This past year it seems protests and political activism have almost become a mainstream trend that can be easily cropped into a filtered Instagram picture and tied up with a nice little bow for your followers to double tap. Social media can, of course, be an important tool for a movement to gain traction, but it is unacceptable to use the tumultuous political climate to show your Twitter timeline how “woke” you are.
Courtesy: Caitlyn White
2. Be seen; not heard.
Let the people who are directly affected by the movement be heard over you. When at a protest or demonstration, if any media outlet attempts to get a quote from you or ask you questions, direct them towards a person who is informed and affected by the issue. It is not an ally’s place to become the voice of the movement.
Courtesy: Severn Damn
3. Listen.
Nobody is perfect which inherently means no ally is perfect. Listen to the people you are trying to support and adjust your behavior accordingly. If you make a mistake the worst thing you can do is ignore constructive criticism because these people are who you are trying to stand with. In order to create any real change and be a helpful participant, you must listen to what the leaders and members of the movement have to say and help as you are directed.
4. Educate yourself, over and over and over again!
Issues and movements are complicated and dynamic. There are developments on the daily, whether it be a new form of important legislation or a new injustice that has come to light. Staying aware of relevant information helps lessen the possibility of becoming a misguided ally and makes you a more valuable asset to the movement.
5. Educate others.
Try to start discussions within your own community on the issues you fight for. Engage in constructive discourse in an attempt to educate and shift other people’s perspectives. Don’t turn a blind eye to discrimination just because the perpetrator is a family member, a close friend or a “good” guy. You are responsible for policing your community, especially those you are closest to. Bear some of the burdens because minorities and LGBTQ+ people are tired of explaining why they deserve to be treated like human beings.