As social justice movements have grown in the past few years, allyship has become a popular topic for people seeking ways to support their peers from oppressed communities. An ally is someone who supports a group they don’t belong to. They form close bonds with that group while remembering that they are there to help. They promote the group’s needs and use their influence to raise that group’s voice.
As an ally, you should encourage others to join your group and combat ignorance within your own group. Allyship occurs when members of privileged groups work with members of disadvantaged groups to abolish systems that jeopardize their basic rights, equality, and opportunities.
Allies are crucial for a variety of reasons. It’s important for people to recognize and utilize their own privilege, as well as to call out and challenge conduct that promotes racism, gender inequality, religious oppression, disability discrimination, and other problems in society. There’s a lot you should learn, and it’s not the community’s job to teach you about it. If you come across people in that community who are willing to teach others without being asked, take them up on their offer and listen to their experiences. In this article, we will discuss how to be a true ally.
While good intentions are admirable, they may be as ineffective as performative allyship if they have no effect. It’s tough to face that, and it invites harsh criticism, but real allies use it to learn from their mistakes and strengthen their efforts moving ahead. Instead of trying to cover up or ignore your past mistakes, take accountability and address it. Reflect on what you had done before and why it was harmful or offensive to certain communities. It’s okay to make mistakes, as long as we grow from them!
Finally, successful and responsible allyship needs action. Encourage potential allies to draw inspiration from disadvantaged minorities and work with them to decide on initiatives and build a support system for each other’s goals. Aspiring allies often define their support in the voting booth, influence lawmakers, create petitions, and attend social justice marches or rallies, since the action is generally political.
Remember, this is only the start. Being an ally is a lifelong journey of learning, understanding, and action. A true ally recognizes they will never fully achieve it, but that it is always something to strive towards.
This article was written by Kayla Thomas of Seneca Valley High School
Photo courtesy of Mathias Wasik via Creative Commons