After nearly 400-500 years of White Europeans overtly violently oppressing Black Africans, it is about damn time for change. The historical events of 2020 alone, including COVID 19 disproportionately infecting and killing Black people and the multiple brutal police killings of Black people, challenges those of us with privilege to do more to empower Black lives. We who are privileged must become better allies for our Black friends and Black community. To do this we have to be anti-racist, acting actively against racism. By stepping up as anti-racist, we will fight for an equitable future for Black people, and the Black community. We have to do this because Black Lives Matter.
As a White passing bi-racial person I have benefited from White privilege. Most of us who have white privilege, including myself, have been complacent participants in the evil of our racist society for far too long. We need to take responsibility of our ongoing contribution to racism in our society and be anti-racist. White privilege gives us advantages that Black people do not have. It is our moral obligation to use our advantages to support the Black community. We have to work towards a world that is good towards everyone. The following is our to do list to help get us there.
Our Privileged Peoples’ To Do List
1. Listen to & Acknowledge the Pain of Black People
First, we must listen to the Black community. Active listening is a honed skill. Here are a few articles from Medium, Very Well Mind, and Forbes on listening.
An important part of listening is validating or acknowledging who you are listening to. Please refrain from stating in your acknowledgment, “I understand…” or “I know how you feel.” These statements shift the attention away from the person who is speaking to ourselves, instead of supporting the person. We may think we understand what the other person is going through but it is unlikely we will ever truly know. We may empathize with their pain but we will not understand the hardships carried through centuries of generations in their families and in their own life. On a similar note, if we are experiencing guilt, sadness, or other difficult feelings we should not put the responsibility of comforting us on our Black friends. Our role as privileged people is to support the Black community, not seek support from them.
2. Educate Ourselves
We who are privileged should educate ourselves. Do not ask Black, Indigenous, Latinx, or Asian people to teach you, they have enough to manage. There are several topics we should learn about. For example privilege, bias, ally, racism, anti-racism, meaning behind “Black Lives Matter”, history of racist oppression, and our white supremacist society. Fortunately, there are numerous resources on these subjects including books, TV shows, movies, podcasts and all of the above..
Activist and Community Organizer, Leslie Mac, stated in a recent article about how to be a stronger White ally “The goal is not just to have people learn about white supremacy, but to understand how their personal lives support it.”
Our Privilege
Here is a quick video about the concept of privilege. You may check your privilege with this tiktok video. Read about why privilege is important to think about and how you are benefiting from privilege. Additional articles to learn more about privilege.
Check Yourself
If you find yourself thinking that All Lives Matter please review this article that explains What Black Lives Matter Means.
Do Not Be Afraid to Make Mistakes
I am an admittedly awkward person on a good day, now add in challenging discussions like race and the level of awkwardness can be palpable. I know I am going to make mistakes while supporting Black people in the fight for equality but I cannot let this fear hold me back. Rather if we make mistakes, we should own our mistakes, and then learn from them to move forward together. By educating ourselves we are also preparing ourselves to make less mistakes.
Necessary Reflection
Racism, prejudice, discrimination, violent oppression, and biases are all heavy topics. We need to make sure we are taking care of our mental health. We also need to reflect on our own prejudice, and biases, as well as thoughts on our conversations and actions. Reflection will also help us learn how we impact Black lives by perpetuating white supremacy.
3. Follow the lead of the Black community
If we want to be a part of the movement for change, we need to follow the lead of the Black community. The Black community knows what they need and we should let them lead. For too long, people of privilege have pushed aside the Black communities’ voices. Instead, we must step back, follow the lead of the Black community, let their voices be heard and amplified because they know what is best for their lives. If we don’t understand the reasons behind what they are asking for, see number 2 above.
4. Transition from Ally to Anti-racist
“When we choose to be anti-racist, we become actively conscious about race and racism and take actions to end racial inequities in our daily lives. Being anti-racist is believing that racism is everyone’s problem, and we all have a role to play in stopping it.” –National Museum of African American History & Culture
We as privileged people, need to work actively towards an equal future for all. This requires us to commit to being anti-racist where we are both conscious about racism and actively working for an end to a racist society. Vox’s interviewed 3 different activist and each of them stated the importance of being anti-racist as a part of being a good white ally.
Ways to be Anti-Racist
How to be Anti-racist from Mashable and Actionable Steps for Anti-racism from Waste Free Marie.
Talk about Racism
Talk about racism with your kids, parents, partners, siblings, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. Talking about racism is often difficult. On the other hand, not talking about racism I feel has contributed to the complacency of racism among White people in America. Inevitably leading to the ongoing issues of horrifying violent treatment of Black people and racial inequality. The host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, wishes there was more ease with discussions of racism here in the U.S. He explains that conversations about racism helps with the understandings of how we got to where we are. Check out the clip of Trevor Noah’s description here, the time mark is 7:51.
Talk about Racism at Home
Resources to talk to your kids about racism, raising them as anti-racist, and children’s books on racism to read with them. Here is a video of a kindergarten teacher reading a children’s book on racism that you and your kids may watch together. If you would also like to encourage more education on anti-racism in your school system check out the We Are organization.
Talking about Racism with Family and Friends
The title of this article is “‘Lean Into Discomfort’ When Talking about Race,” and we have to lean in. We need to push against our own comfort zone and talk about race because we cannot stay silent. A couple of more articles about talking about race, from NMAAHC and Vox.
Speak Up
Challenge racist statements, including racist jokes, microaggressions, and bias statements.
Speak up at Work
We must also encourage anti-racism at work by promoting racial justice, and building an anti-racism workplace. Need some inspiration for what to encourage, Ben & Jerry’s call to action is succinct.
Stand Up, Protest
The recent protests have worked. In 2 weeks, the protests have influenced local and federal leaders to start discussions and make changes to policing. If you feel safe to peacefully protest, then join your local protests. Make sure to wear a face mask to prevent transmission of COVID 19. Here are some additional safety tips for protesting.
Donate to Organizations
This article includes organizations who are helping communities who were damaged during the protests, including in Minneapolis and St. Paul. New York Magazine provides over 100 different organizations for Black lives and communities of color that we may donate to including bail funds. Loveland Foundation provides financial resources to women of color focusing on Black women and girls, for mental health services.
Support Black Owned Businesses
If you plan to purchase books about racism and anti-racism, support Black owned bookstores from across the country. Also research local Black owned businesses you may support.
Contact Your Elected Officials
Black Lives Matter movement is working to defund the police. We should not fund a police force that is violent towards Black people. The money should be reallocated to social programs like healthcare, education, and housing to support Black lives and other POC. See where in your own local community is the money going. What part of the budget is going to the police department? Check out 12-18 on this list of what we can ask of our elected officials. Not sure how to contact your elected officials, check out the last half of this post on how to contact your elected officials.
Vote
VOTE EVERY TIME! As we have seen over the last decade, we know how much the decisions of U.S. Congress, State, and Local officials impact our lives. We need to vote for who will lead our country as President but also who best represents our values for our state and local offices. Also prepare to vote! Review who are the candidates up for election. Review who is your district attorney, prosecutor, coroner, and public service commissioner. Some of these positions are elected officials and have direct impact on Black lives.
If you are worried about going to the polls during COVID 19, check this website of how to vote by mail.
Join the Movement
Rising Majority is network of various organizations working to find alignment on multiple social issues including racism, climate change, immigrant rights, and feminism. Organizations in this network include, Movement for Black Lives, 350.org, Women’s March, and many more.
Black Lives Matter is a global organization that began in 2013. The goal of the Black Lives Matter movement is to “eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.” https://blacklivesmatter.com/
Color of Change is an online racial justice organization that has been working for 10 years challenging systems of inequality. https://colorofchange.org/
5. Repeat above To Dos until True Equality is Achieved for ALL
It is encouraging to see protests continuing. The protests have resulted in local and federal governments making plans to change the police force with defunding, or even discussions of dismantling the police force altogether. These are important steps of a journey towards a racially just society but we have a long way to go. This recent CNN article shares 6 charts of the inequality between Black and White lives. If the protests and momentum start to slow down, this also cannot slow us down towards the goal of racial equality for the Black community. Since our privilege gives us power, we are responsible for maintaining momentum.
I am by no means an expert in any of the above to do items and these items are meant as a starting off point. In addition, I am not an angel in the system because I am guilty of being complacent throughout my life. My guilt won’t change anything. If you are privileged and feeling guilty, your guilt won’t change anything either. You and I didn’t create the systems of white supremacy, but we certainly can act to abolish them.
If 400-500 years of oppression and violence against Black lives is not enough reason for you to be a part of this movement to upend white supremacy, then I challenge you to honestly reflect on what will it take for you to join in the pursuit? I have hope, that if each of us reflect on ourselves, we would desire a better future and become active anti-racist because Black Lives Matter.