I recently read Tim
Wise’s excellent book, White Like Me. The
book talks about Wise’s own path toward his understanding of race as white
person and his subsequent work toward racial justice.
One of the chapters
particularly caught my attention: one that delves into becoming a true white
ally. It’s one thing to read about racial injustice, post articles on Twitter
or Facebook or even have strong opinions about race in the US. It’s another
thing to be willing to do the work of being an outspoken and active ally. Wise
has some suggestions on the best way to do that:
- Be willing to listen. Believe people
of color or minorities when they tell you their stories. Respect their
perspective. Give them credit. One example he gives is to respect the way
people want to be called: black, African American, Indian American, Native
American, gays, queer? Whatever it is. If someone tells you what they want to
be called, do it, respect it.
- Call out racism (or any sort of negative -ism) when you
see or hear it. Do not let family or friends make jokes that make you
uncomfortable. Respond in love (attacks against someone has never made them
change their minds!) but respond. As Martin Luther King, Jr said “in the end,
we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”
Take this at heart, and by doing so be a role model to your other friends,
family members, and especially your children if they’re around you while you
call someone out.
- Find white role models. This is so important. You do not have to do
this alone! Be part of a group if you can. Find someone who inspires you and
follow their leads.
- Speaking of leaders, do your part under
the leadership of people of color or minorities. Don’t create a
movement when one already exists -follow their leads, their needs, their
actions.
- It’s scary to be a real ally. Do it
anyway! The work will challenge you and the
system that is so good
to white people, myself included of course. The bottom line is that justice
comes with a cost and white people must engage in uncomfortable truths and
envision a revision of the socio-economic and power privileges we're
accustomed to. And that's ok -necessary even.
- Finally, do not expect a pat on the back for
your work from people of colors or minorities. Don’t do anti-racism work for
people of color -they can do that for themselves. Do it because it’s
the right thing to do.
The
task is daunting but white people have power from the simple and
"lucky" fact to be born white. White people need to use this
privilege to exercise leadership in dismantling oppressive systems.
If you are interested in joining a movement to
end racism, you can check out your local chapter of SURJ (Showing Up for Racial
Justice) here. There is work to be
done. Let's do this!
(Photo by Jerry Kiesewetter)
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