Column: Some dos and don’ts of being an ally

Destiny Blanchard

In honor of Black History Month, I’ve compiled a short list of Dos and Don’ts for the people who consider themselves allies of the Black community. I’ve noticed (especially in the past year) that many allies -specifically white ones- call themselves allies without any meaning behind it. Many do so because they want to seem like they’re anti-racist without doing the work to prove it. This list should serve as a stepping stone into a true allyship.

Don’t: Expect your Black peers to do all the work in educating yourself on Black issues and history. While an overwhelming majority of Black people are more knowledgeable on Black history and issues than their white and non-Black counterparts, that doesn’t mean it’s their job to teach you. Black people are not experts on racism for you to call on when you don’t understand racist words, policies and actions. There is nearly an infinite amount of resources on racism and Black history for allies to learn from.

Do: Challenge the ideas and history that you have already been taught. Realize that the version of Black history taught in American schools is often watered down and altered to be more palatable to the ears of those who think this country is the greatest of all time. The moment you start peeling back the layers of American history you can understand how truly shameful and painful it is.

Don’t: Speak over or for Black people. There’s a tendency for allies to use the knowledge they’ve acquired to speak on behalf of Black people on issues they don’t experience. There’s a privilege that comes with being able to speak on racial issues while being a white person, and at the same time there’s an unconscious bias that many don’t make an effort to unlearn.

Do: Hold yourself and others accountable for racism. Racism isn’t always blatantly displayed, it’s often covered up and comes out in whispers. More often than not white allies have been at the forefront of witnessing racism and have done nothing to combat it. Challenge the tendency to remain silent and call out those around you for perpetuating racist ideologies or stereotypes. People of color have done the majority of the work to combat racism on their own and are often chastised for it, do your part to alleviate the burden of racism by holding the people in your life accountable.

 

Destiny Blanchard is a junior management major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].