Day 18: Allyship
What does it mean to be an ally? An ally seeks to understand what it feels like for another person or group to be oppressed, and despite knowing you will never fully understand how it feels, is committed to valuing and supporting people who are marginalized. Remember, being an ally is not an identity, it is a continual process – something that you have to work at, be intentional about, and commit to, day in and day out. This video from Netflix helps to explain what allyship means.
In the open source starter guide, Amélie Lamont summarizes what it means to be an ally:
- Take on the struggle as your own.
- Transfer the benefits of your privilege to those who lack it.
- Amplify the voices of the oppressed before your own.
- Acknowledge that even though you feel pain, the conversation is not about you.
- Stand up, even when you feel scared.
- Own your mistakes and de-center yourself.
- Understand that your education is up to you and no one else.
Today’s Challenge
Read: Read the Do’s and Don’ts of Allyship that are important to know as you practice and evolve your role in fighting for racial equity. Explore the do’s and don’ts you have perpetuated as an ally (or experienced from an ally) in support of equity and inclusion. What may change for you moving forward?
Listen: Listen to NPR’s Code Switch podcast episode to explore the complexities of allyship. Consider how you feel after listening to the podcast. How can you improve your allyship or support allies?
Read: Read about how to be a better ally in the workplace in the article Allyship – The Key to Unlocking the Power of Diversity from Sheree Atcheson. Looking for a place to start? Atcheson suggests taking time to really listen to the experiences of those around you.
Discussion
By definition, an ally is someone who makes the commitment and effort to recognize their privilege (based on gender, class, race, sexual identity, etc.) and works in solidarity with oppressed groups in the struggle for justice. Allies understand that it is in their own interest to end all forms of oppression, even those from which they may benefit in concrete ways.
Where am I on my journey to living as an ally to members of marginalized communities? Where can I use my power to elevate the voices of members of these communities? Where do I hear and see bias in my own community? How can I disrupt these narratives or norms with the knowledge I have gained?
