Allyship and self-reflection on the part of white individuals is an integral part of the antiracism project. Those who have inherent societal privilege and benefit from a white-oriented system have a responsibility to help dismantle it. To this extent, being an ally includes more than posting on social media or showing “support”. Being an ally involves educating oneself on racism and oppression even if it is uncomfortable. Allyship involves critical self-reflection and actively taking on racism and oppression as your own issue, even if you will never understand or experience the damage it causes.
“Black people do not need allies. We need people to stand up and take on the problems borne of oppression as their own, without remove or distance. We need people to do this even if they cannot fully understand what it’s like to be oppressed for their race or ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, class, religion, or other marker of identity. We need people to use common sense to figure out how to participate in social justice.” – Roxane Gay
Recent Articles
Baird, Robert P. "The invention of whiteness: the long history of a dangerous idea" The Guardian, April 20, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/apr/20/the-invention-of-whiteness-long-history-dangerous-idea