This article was written as a companion piece to our Black Philanthropy Month newsletter feature in August. It is important to consider how we can continue to respond to systemic racism in our community.
On a clear sunny day in LA, a woman walks down the street. She is young and blond and white. She pauses, noticing that the police have pulled a car over. The driver is a Black man. The woman stops to observe from the sidewalk. The police notice her watching and tell her to move on. She declines, noting that she is doing nothing illegal. The woman wants to be a witness in case something happens. The driver sees her and puts his hand to his heart in thanks. In the end, the police leave without further incident.
This story is real. It was shared by one of our members; the young woman is her daughter. The incident is a simple, yet powerful example of what it is to be an ally.
As our communities continue to grapple with a renewed sense of urgency around police violence, systemic racism, and white supremacy, many of us wonder about our role. How do we help? What do we do? To begin, we need to understand our own identity. For example, I am a White, straight, college-educated woman who is married with children. Many of these identities afford me privilege in our society. Understanding your identity and your privilege are important to understanding where our society fails others who don’t have the same identities and privileges.
If you have privilege, you can use it to be an ally. Being an ally means working to end the oppression of a marginalized group, despite the fact that you are not part of that group. Here are a few examples of what it can look like to be an ally.
Educate yourself. If you are a member of a dominant group, you likely have been taught that America is the land of opportunity. That hard work leads to success and prosperity. However, differences in opportunity are not taught widely. For example, the G.I. bill, designed to help returning WWII veterans get on their feet, did not afford the same opportunities to Black veterans (learn more here). In 2009, Congress passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to address inequities in pay between women and their male counterparts, because even in the 21st century women are paid less, simply because they are women.
As part of my education, I am diversifying my sources of information. I am reading a lot, watching films, and consuming social media from Black activists, artists, and Black-led organizations. Here are some resources. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Anti-Racism Reading List, Queens University’s Systemic Racism and Racial Injustice Reading List, and 10 Movies to Educate Yourself about Anti-Racism. Consider following hashtags like #amplifymelanatedvoices or read The Charlotte Post or QCityMetro.com.
As you learn, share your knowledge with others – your children, family members, and others in your identity group.
Listen and pay attention. Listen to the experiences of others. It is important to be open and hear the experiences of those in non-dominant groups. Your gay, Black, or Muslim friend may share an incident that seems implausible to you based on your life experience. That does not mean it did not happen or that person’s feelings are not valid. Hearing people’s stories is a powerful way to educate yourself and recognize their life experience. Become more observant to what goes on around you. You will likely start to notice more disparities and that awareness is important.
Stand in Solidarity. Use your privilege to call out discrimination when you see it. Use your privilege to invite non-dominant groups into spaces of power. Invite others to speak to ensure that diverse voices are heard and valued. Stand side by side with those in their struggles to be heard and treated equitably. Donate your time and money to organizations that support
marginalized groups. See e.g., Share Charlotte’s list of Black-Led, Black benefitting organizations. Support leaders who represent their identity groups. Women’s Impact Fund supported a number of these organizations with our 2020 grant dollars.
Being an ally requires time, effort, and awareness. It can be uncomfortable. It can also happen in a moment, as it did for the young woman in LA. Pay attention and look for the ways that you can be an ally in your daily personal and professional life.
