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There has been an increase in the number of people who are actively trying to confront their conscious and unconscious biases over the past 2 years and especially in the wake of 2020. Many are still coming to terms with the fact that they have been beneficiaries of oppression as well as being complicit in it. This harrowing realisation has convicted many to read more, listen, learn, and unlearn, protest, donate, sign petitions, post on social media, have difficult conversations with loved ones, self-reflect, ask questions, empathise and so on. All these things are great, but there needs to be a shift so that these things are seen as the benchmark of being a decent human being, rather than celebrated achievements.

It’s great that more is being done in some spaces, but there’s still so much more to do and we need stronger allyship to see the real changes that are so badly needed.

The term ally (specifically white ally) is one I see often when I scroll aimlessly on social media and it dawned on me that sometimes, we ascribe more attention to trendy ‘lingo’ and catchphrases than we do to the action. Perhaps this is the cynic in me, but I see the current iteration of allyship, in most cases, as a way for people to pay lip-service to a cause, as opposed to being willing to do the work required to identify, acknowledge, and relinquish privilege for the sake of others.

The dictionary definition suggests that allyship is: ‘association with a marginalised or mistreated group to which one does not belong’, but I would add that it is also an ongoing active process that has no pats on the back, no badges, trophies, or medals at the finish line – because there is no finish line. As long as systems like Racism exist, effective allyship has to exist alongside those that fight every day to combat them. To me it has to involve (but is not limited to) the following:

• Listening more than you speak (especially when you are not a member of the marginalised/oppressed group in a given setting/situation/location/conversation).
• Understanding that you have a privilege that affords you certain advantages that are not available to everyone equally.
• Realising you do not know everything (especially when others are trying to share their lived experiences) and you may have to unlearn a number of things that you had accepted as ‘fact/default/norm’.
• Accepting that though you cannot wield your privilege as a weapon to continue to cause harm, you can and should use it to grant access to those that may have systemically been denied it and amplify the voices of those that may have otherwise been muted.
• Having empathy does not mean you totally understand or relate with an individual/group, instead, you try to put yourself in their shoes and see their humanity and afford them the respect, kindness and compassion you would expect for yourself.
• Read, learn and have conversations (with yourself and loved ones).
• Posting on social media alone does not equate to activism!
• When you truly start doing the work, you may lose people, you may lose money/status and risk your reputation etc…
• Be considerate!

The list could go on and on but ultimately – to be effective in allyship suggests that you are willing to stand up for people who are oppressed and take their plight as though it were your own. It is ongoing, it is gruelling, it may shock you to learn what other people experience but it is necessary. To try to gain profit from being an ally, or to do it for likes or glamour, or clout, or applause is pointless – there are people who are losing their lives at the hand of oppression so choose this journey if you are willing to truly contribute to improving the state of humanity.

 

Written by Nicole-Rose Munhawa

Nicole- Rose Munhawa, is a Leeds based creative, multidisciplinary artist, educator, writer and English language and literature graduate.  She’s committed to challenging racial injustice by raising awareness, challenging stigma, and promoting wellbeing through art. 

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