Definition of ally - a person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity.
This is what I know after this summer: I can't be an ally. This was a tough realization for me. At least, I can't be an ally to Black people. It doesn't make sense. They are not the ones holding up the power of White supremacy. They have to constantly navigate the barriers erected by White supremacy, and, yes, since they swim in the same water as I do, there are members of the Black community who do things that may help White supremacy. But, that's not the point. If there is a problem (and there is), White people are the problem or at the very least have the greatest opportunity to benefit from White supremacy. White people therefore is the group that needs allies. It is time for my community to look at itself, help me look at me, and stop pointing fingers everywhere else. If members of the Black community decide to cooperate with me and help me and my white community in that journey, I welcome their allyship. After I made this connection, I found this quote from Roxane Gay in her article for Marie Claire, “On Making Black Lives Matter.” In it, she notes: 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. In case you are wondering, yes, I did feel pretty cocky when I saw that Roxane Gay would agree with me on this point, if she had a clue that I existed. Hero worship is a real thing. PS. If you still like the term ally, here is a more useful working definition than I offered at first. Allyship: Allyship is an active, consistent, and arduous practice of unlearning and re-evaluating in which a person holding systemic power seeks to end oppressions in solidarity with a group of people who are systemically disempowered. Via guidetoallyship.com
1 Comment
Suzy
8/27/2020 04:23:12 pm
Wow. I have to think through stuff like this slowly - too long since I participated in a discussion that involves so much thinking and analyzing. But I know I agree with you. What a relief!
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