So, you want to be a better white ally? Here are some steps to take in Charlotte.
In the wake of protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, people across the country, some for the first time, realized change was overdue.
Many asked: “What can I, just one person, do for true change?” And surprisingly, social media answered. Major platforms transformed into hubs for information and research on what everyday people can do, with petitions to sign, protests to attend and places to donate.
But it was hard to ignore the problems of social media activism. Black squares filled Instagram screens for #blackouttuesday on June 2. Confusion over the misuse of #blacklivesmatter ensued, and discussions of “performative” or “optical” allyship then dominated the social media sphere.
To be a true ally and supporter as a non-Black person, activists are calling for “non-optical” allyship. But what does that mean?
Claire Tandoh, the 17-year-old founder of the Charlotte youth social justice group Kidz Fed Up, said social media can be a powerful tool for future education. “But the problem is when your education starts and stops at social media,” she said.
Tandoh said Black children and other children are taught the reality of racism from a young age. “It’s not up to Black people to teach you that, either, or any person of color to teach you about what is affecting them,” she said.
Through social media and the internet, we are connected to so many activists and resources that can inform non-Black people on how to be better allies. So we did the research:
Writer Mireille Cassandra Harper created an Instagram post called “10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship.” The now viral thread was made to provide guidance on a “personal level as a friend,” Harper said in the post. The first step: “Understanding what optical allyship is.”
Latham Thomas, founder of global maternity brand MamaGlow, provided a working definition of the term optical allyship in an Instagram post on May 1, 2018, as “allyship that only serves at the surface level to platform the ‘ally,’ it makes a statement but doesn’t go beneath the surface and is not aimed at breaking away from the systems of power that oppress.”
The Guide to Allyship is an online resource on the difference between identifying and truly being an ally created by Amélie Lamont. True allies “take on the struggle as your own.” This guide provides an overview of the do’s and don’ts of allyship, but an important one to note is: “Do not expect to be taught or shown. Take it upon yourself to use the tools around you to learn and answer your questions.”
This list is by no means complete. Becoming a better ally takes work, dedication and extensive research, and is a commitment to amplifying and supporting Black voices. Allyship is an active process of diligence and acknowledgment. There is no one “how-to” guide. But here are some things to do, steps to take and ways to self-educate.
“I think that being an ally doesn’t just go for right now — it’s a lifelong thing, because you know, being Black is a lifelong thing,” Tandoh said.
Reach out to friends
In Harper’s post, the second step to non-optical allyship is checking in with your Black friends. But how you reach out is important.
Rachel Cargle, an activist, writer and lecturer, posted on Instagram that she is tired of hearing phrases that refer to shock and surprise instead of actual action. Phrases such as “I can’t believe this,” and “I had no idea.” Instead, Cargle wrote she wants to hear about concrete action, such as making donations, holding genuine conversations with friends and family and doing research to self-educate.
Harper’s post also states that people should be cautious of what they share on social media. “Avoid sharing content which is traumatic,” she said in her post. Reposting videos of Black people being hurt creates trauma and “increases also to the dehumanization of black people,” Harper said.
“It’s literally just extending your empathy and compassion,” Tandoh said. “If you truly have a friend and you truly do believe that Black Lives Matter, and you are truly for the liberation of all Black people, you are going to make it your mission to do that, especially for your friend in your life.”
Work with activists near you
LeDayne McLeese Polaski, the executive director of MeckMIN, Mecklenburg’s Metropolitan Interfaith Network, compiled an anti-racism resource list, highlighting local people and groups who work with organizations, such as houses of faith, on holding conversations and discussions of race, racism, power and privilege.
McLeese Polaski said she hopes this list will be used as a resource to connect groups of people to hold intentional conversations, for groups of people who want to go deeper but also for those who are new to anti-racism work. “Part of the idea with a list is to have it be broad enough to reach all those people.”
She said she initially planned to compile reading lists as an anti-racism resource. Then she asked: “What if instead we came up with a list of people?”
“I know people who are doing this work, I know they do it well, I know they are right here,” McLeese Polaski said. “And wouldn’t it be great to highlight what they’re doing.”
Within the list, there is diversity of career and learning style. It’s not just people who lead training sessions, there are dancers, storytellers and musicians featured on the list.
Another motivation behind the creation of the list is to remind people to support the people doing and leading anti-racist work and efforts. “Some of these people make their living this way.”
This initial list is only the beginning. The resource will serve as a living document for people to refer to. And there will always be room for more and more people on the list, McLeese Polaski said.
“If you’re committed to doing this, there are lots and lots of ways to approach it,” McLeese Polaski said.
Activist and yoga instructor Rebby Kern leads a workshop called Race, Gender & Bias. The next workshop is on Aug. 27. These workshops involve deep-dives and conversation into the roles of race, gender and bias in daily life as well as systems of oppression. These workshops are designed for leaders in fitness communities and “community members looking to level up personal accountability,” according to Kern’s website.
Kern offers another an immersion program called Fully Integrated Immersion for those who have completed the Race, Gender & Bias workshop. Along with these programs, they also host a podcast called Fully Integrated.
What to read
“It shouldn’t take a graphic for somebody to pay attention,” Tandoh said. “One thing I think people need to do especially is read.”
Tandoh cited activists and authors who came before the current movement. “People like Angela Davis, bell hooks — people like this that are legends. They have so much information on what we can do to move forward,” she said.
Here are some books to check out to learn more about white privilege, systemic racism and the experience of being Black in America. Consider purchasing from Black-owned bookstores, such as Shelves Bookstore in Charlotte.
“The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
“How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kend
“Between the World And Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
“Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’
“So You Want To Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo
More reading lists to check out:
20 books to read about white privilege and being anti-racist, compiled by @theeverygirl.com
Five books on racial injustice in healthcare, compiled by @womenswellnessalliance
Black LGBTQ+ book recommendations, compiled by @imagineiflibraries
Sources of support
Read more about what actions and policies protesters are seeking
Listen to why people protest
What to watch
“Just Mercy”
Based on the book by Bryan Stevenson, “Just Mercy” is about the case of a man wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death. Rent “Just Mercy” on YouTube, Amazon Prime, iTunes and other rental services.
“Selma”
“Selma” tells the story of the 1965 voting rights march led by Martin Luther King Jr. Rent “Selma” on digital platforms.
“13th”
This Emmy Award-winning documentary directed by Ava DuVernay discusses race and mass incarceration in the United States. Find “13th” on Netflix.
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
Based on the book by James Baldwin and directed by Barry Jenkins, this film is about a man wrongfully convicted and the toll it takes on his family. Stream on Hulu.
For more movies or shows to self-educate and support Black artists check out these collections and lists:
Black Lives Matter collection on Netflix
Black Stories on Hulu
Amplify Black Voices on Amazon Prime
What to listen to
Code Switch
Hosted by journalists of color, NPR’s Code Switch discusses how race impacts all aspects of society to debunk the myth that we live in a “post-racial” world.
“American Police” by Throughline
Throughline by NPR goes back in time to tell the stories behind history’s headlines and how they relate to the protest. This episode unpacks the history of police brutality in America and its origin as a form of control of Black Americans.
1619
The 1619 podcast is a part of the New York Times Magazine larger 1619 project. This podcast, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, discusses the history of slavery and its impact on the present.
More Resources
Anti-racism Project Resources
