Reflection 10: Story of Collaboration
Many people that went through some sort of public school system can name a handful of people that fought for social justice but rarely do the masses know the names of said people’s white allies that fought alongside them. Some would argue that this is intentional and how it should be, others may feel they deserve recognition.
“What is an ally?” You may ask.
“An ‘ally’ is someone who has privilege, but chooses to stand for and with marginalized communities by taking tangible, ongoing actions to dismantle systems of oppression.”
After people learn this definition, the next question they should be asking themselves is “How?”
The simple response would be that being an ally begins with collaboration and amity. In order to be an ally to marginalized groups (POC, women, LGBTQA+, people with disabilities, etc.) one must begin by having relationships with them. As people, it is in our nature to yearn for connection with others.
Step out of your comfort zone and meet new people, even if it’s virtually, insert yourself into a new community and work to build amity. Amity is another way of saying “friendship”. Build connections that blossom into friendships and lead to collaboration.
Collaboration can be used in many different contexts, but when applied to allyship, it translates to working with marginalized and/or oppressed people in efforts to change the factors that oppress them in the first place.
Examples of this include different oppressed groups organizing together (intersectionality), people using their privileges and platforms to spread awareness about those marginalized groups, etc.
One of the most important parts about being an ally is education. Allies must educate themselves on the problems they are fighting against, as well as learn about the people they are fighting for.
There are so many resources specifically to help white people understand their “whiteness” and learn how to become allies. Many people that accept their privilege feel shame, thus stopping them from taking the next step(s) in becoming an ally.
As a nation, we all need to do better by each other, only then will the fights against racism, oppression, patriarchy, etc. become one fight -- achieving the “other tradition”; defined as the collaboration of all people to move forward in a new inclusive society.