5 Important Ways You Can Be An Anti-Racist Ally
It’s time for all of us to step up and show our solidarity and support.
We need to learn how we can help overcome the atrocities of racial discrimination, black and people of colour should not have to fight this battle alone. If you want to help, but don’t know how we have created a list of things you can do to start with and become better allies to the fight against racial discrimination.
1. Recognise your privilege
Racism has been embedded in our society slowly and steadily and with every moment of endured racism and bias - there were practices that were born to oppress people of colour. Which means that by default white people benefited from this oppression, and that was the becoming of white privilege.
White privilege does not mean discrediting a white person’s accomplishments, hard work or even hardships, instead, it is recognising that the colour of your skin has not negatively affected your achievements or made your struggles worse.
Once you’ve recognised your privilege, you can, in fact, use it to defeat racial discrimination however, it can feel like a burden. Don’t try to justify it because that’s easier than feeling the uncomfortable reality of its existence. Instead, you can:
Learn when to listen, voice and amplify people of colour’s voices. When a person of colour is talking about their racial discrimination experiences, try to avoid dominating the conversation by comparing them to your own struggles.
Share the work and perspectives of people of colour on your social media, and with your friends and family. This helps them amplify their message and keeps the message true to the source.
The road to becoming anti-racist is a long one, and along the way, you will make mistakes, or say the wrong thing. If that happens, keep an open mind when you receive honest feedback from your black friends, family, and loved ones and learn from it.
The discomfort you feel by acknowledging your privilege might raise feelings of fragility and defensiveness. However, before you act on them check yourself and think about whether it’s helpful or if its adding fuel to the fire of racial discrimination.
2. Silence is complicit, so speak up
Discussing the ongoing news cycle is easy, but where it can really make a difference is when the white community and other people of colour vocalise when they observe instances of bias, racism and injustice amongst their friends, family or in their workplace.
For example, if you are at a party where someone “jokingly” makes an insensitive racial comment it’s easier to sweep it under the rug to avoid awkwardness. This is when you have the opportunity to change the narrative, you can use your voice and acknowledge the racial discrimination you witnessed and educate those around you, and explain why what they did was insensitive. The more people learn, the less ignorant they will be.
As an ally, your privilege can be the tool you use to reach an audience that are more likely to relate to your journey and listen to your story by understanding your personal relationship with white privilege and race.
This is your opportunity to use your position to amplify black voices instead of silencing them. Communicate to your family, friends and social media audience that what is happening is NOT OK, and should not be tolerated.
3. Don’t ask to be educated, educate yourself
If you have pledged to fight against racism, the most important part you can play as an ally is to educate yourself. When you read, watch and listen, it will lead you to self-reflect and it will shed light on all the things you have to learn and unlearn. There are so many resources to get you started, we’ve rounded up a few.
You can find the list of books we recommend to start with here
Here are some TV shows and movies you should watch:
13th - Netflix
American Son - Netflix
Dear White People - Netflix
See You Yesterday - Netflix
When They See Us - Netflix
Who Killed Malcolm X - Netflix
Some podcasts that you should listen to:
4. Check-in with your black friends, family, partners and loved ones
This time might be a very traumatising and triggering time for your black loved ones. You can help them by:
Avoiding posting videos that are violent and abusive against black people, it can further traumatise or trigger them and can make them feel de-humanised
Try to ask them “how are you feeling”, or “how can you help” rather than asking them “how was your weekend”. You'll be surprised how much difference it can make if you show you genuinely care.
5. Start planning your long-term strategy to become anti-racist
Now that you have played your part by donating, marching and educating yourself in the present, how are you going to continue that momentum long-term? Some of the ways you can continue your journey of becoming anti-racist :
You can turn your one-time donation to a subscription
You can share the books you read with your peers and maybe even start a book club
You can volunteer and donate your time with local organisations that are fighting racism everyday.
You should hold brands and cooperations accountable by using your social media platform and choose to use brands that support anti-racism for the long-haul
Observe how much of the country’s history with racism is taught in schools and fight for more exposure on the issue if needed.
There are so many more ways you can support the fight against racial discrimination, but don’t forget to keep working on yourself as well.
