Ally

Being an ally means that you recognize the rights and privileges you have that others don’t, and you take action to address those injustices.

Being an ally is rooted in action. It’s not so much who you are – it’s what you do.

It means taking the time to understand the issues that are important to the community you want to support while also learning how you benefit from existing systems. (It’s critical to take on this learning yourself, rather than put the burden on the shoulders of the very community you want to be an ally of.)

Once you have a deep understanding of the issues facing different communities, being an ally means using your voice, privilege and power to educate others and take meaningful action to affect change, while always following the lead of the community. It is a delicate balance that will take practice.

It’s important to realize that in being an ally, you will make mistakes. You will sometimes say the wrong thing, speak over someone in the community, or miss opportunities to speak out. Part of being an ally is knowing and accepting that you made a mistake, and graciously listening to feedback, learning from your missteps, owning the mistake and moving forward. Being an ally means being focused on the impact of your actions – not on what your intentions were. If your actions impacted someone in a negative way, own it, learn and commit to doing better.

Part of being an ally is knowing and accepting that you will make mistakes, and graciously listening to feedback, learning from your missteps, owning the mistake and moving forward.

In the end, no one can declare they are an ally. Being an ally means being recognized and trusted within a community or affinity group as someone who, while not a part of that particular community, takes meaningful action and stands in solidarity with them.

Reflect
  • What are specific actions that someone can take to be an ally?
  • Think about a time in your life when you feel you were a good ally. What did you say, do and learn in that situation that helped you be in solidarity with a particular community?
  • Think about a time when you could have been a better ally. In retrospect, what actions would you change for the future?
  • Write down 3–5 information sources that you can use to learn more about issues facing the community you want to support. Having these resources readily available helps avoid asking someone from a marginalized community to educate you, which requires extra emotional labor for them.
  • Is anything holding you back from being a better ally? How can you address those things?
  • What are ways you can use your voice, power and privilege to be a true ally today?
Change: Steps Toward Progress
  • Listen to the community you want to support. Addressing inequities requires centering the voices of those most impacted and responding to the needs they identify
  • Set aside ample time to reflect upon the systems that exist and how you benefit from them. This can feel uncomfortable, but is a critical step in understanding the systemic inequities in society and being a true ally
  • Stay engaged. Remember that folks in marginalized communities do not have the opportunity to opt in or out – their experiences with oppression and injustice are constant, so being a true ally means continuing to be engaged even when it is difficult
  • Commit to ongoing learning and action. There are many injustices in the world, and dismantling systemic racism and inequities will require everyone to be involved
Further Reading
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