With the recent acquittal of Jason Stockley, many citizens of St. Louis have come together to protest the racial injustices that are happening right now in our country. Among these protesters are white people. However, many of these white protesters are either new to the movement or unaware of important tenants on how to be a white ally.
If the term “white ally” is a new one to you, don’t worry; it’s foreign to a lot of people. As defined by this article, a social justice ally is “…more than being sympathetic towards those who experience discrimination. It is more than simply believing in equality. Being an ally means being willing to act with and for others in pursuit of ending oppression and creating equality.” It is a title every white person with a passion for social justice should strive to live up to.
Here are a few of the most important do’s and don’ts that will help you become a better friend, activist, and ally to people of color:
Do speak up, but don’t speak over.
Perhaps the golden rule of white allyship, this idea is essential for understanding your place in the movement. You have a duty to speak out for the victims of institutional racism, but you do not have any right or place in speaking over them. At the end of the day, this is not your movement. It is not your struggle. And even if you think you can conduct or explain things better than leaders of color in the movement, it is not your place to say so. Chances are, you probably don’t know any better.
Do educate yourself.
If you are fighting for something, you need to know exactly what that thing is. Pick up a book or scrounge the internet to get acquainted with the history behind institutional racism as well as its modern implications. Do you know what happened in the Stockley case? Do you know why people are protesting the verdict? Do you know the name of the man who was killed? (In case you don’t, his name was Anthony Lamar Smith. His name shouldn’t be drowned out by Stockley’s).
It’s also very important to be aware of the last word of this statement: “yourself.” You cannot expect a person of color to educate you; you need to do it yourself. There’s nothing wrong with asking a few questions here and there to make sure you aren’t overstepping your bounds. But if you are constantly asking questions that you can easily discover on your own, you clearly aren’t taking time out of your day to research what you’re fighting for. If you’re uncertain what qualifies as cultural appropriation or you want to have a simple way of explaining why reverse racism doesn’t exist, look it up!
Don’t expect any praise.
If you are looking to receive praise for the work you’re doing, you need to reevaluate why you’re doing it. It’s as simple as that.
Do start conversations with other white people.
This is a very concrete role you, as a white person, can have. Take your newfound knowledge from educating yourself and put it into practice by talking to your friends and starting difficult conversations! Many people will never put themselves into situations where these discussions happen, so you can have a role in making them. If you get the ball rolling with your friends, family, and acquaintances, you can really make a difference.
Do stand up for the movement even when it’s uncomfortable.
This goes along with the last point. Did your significant other just make a racist joke? Are your family members making uninformed statements about a recent court case at the dinner table? If you remain silent, you’re contributing to a society that normalizes racism.
Do make it a part of your daily life. (And conversely, don’t back out when it’s inconvenient for you).
You must remember that it is within your privilege as a white person to have the ability to choose when you want to protest. People of color do not have the same lack of urgency; racial inequality directly and negatively impacts their lives every day. In the grand scheme of things, even if you have to skip out on some studying time for a big test, standing in solidarity for a cause you believe in will be beyond worth it.
If you are checking your privilege, researching, and having important conversations on a daily basis, you are on your way to becoming a successful ally for this movement and its message.
Don’t be simply non-racist. Be anti-racist
Lastly, and arguably most importantly, you must learn the difference between being non-racist and anti-racist. Many people can say they are not racist, but can they say they are actively working to change the racist workings of our country? In order to call yourself a white ally, you must first become anti-racist and take a meaningful stand against injustice.
Ultimately, there is no such thing as a perfect white ally, and there will always be things that white people simply cannot understand or truly empathize with. I know for a fact that even I, personally, have a long way to go before I can fully call myself a white ally. Still, our voices are important and our effort is something that can make a difference.
Perhaps with time, there will be the necessary changes made to deinstitutionalize racism in America. Until then, it is our duty to recognize our privilege and then use it to the advantage of those who do not have the same privileges.