Equity & Social Justice Advisory Group Resources: Allyship
Introduction
"Allyship is an English-language neologism used in contemporary social justice activism to describe efforts by groups of people to advance the interests of marginalized groups both in society at large and in particular social contexts, for example universities or workplaces. The term and related behaviors are controversial, with critics alleging that allyship is an ideological, performative, and insincere notion that may ignore prior concepts of tolerance and solidarity."
Wikipedia contributors, “Allyship,” Wikipedia, March 28, 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allyship.
How to be an Ally
- 7 Examples of What Being an Ally at Work Really Looks Like"Diverse and inclusive workplaces can be both difficult to find and hard to create. But if you care about making your own workplace truly inclusive, you have the ability to effect real change—as an ally. An ally is someone who is not a member of an underrepresented group but who takes action to support that group."
- Antiracism Toolkit for Allies"The Antiracism Toolkit for Allies provides analyses of white advantage and information about how to disrupt racism and create work communities where everyone thrives. This guide was written specifically for white people because white supremacy grants unearned advantages to whites. The work of recognizing these advantages and actively resisting racism is the most crucial work that white people can embrace in order to create meaningful change."
- Beyond allyship: Motivations for advantaged group members to engage in action for disadvantaged groups"White Americans who participate in the Black Lives Matter movement, men who attended the Women’s March, and people from the Global North who work to reduce poverty in the Global South—advantaged group members (sometimes referred to as allies) often engage in action for disadvantaged groups. Tensions can arise, however, over the inclusion of advantaged group members in these movements, which we argue can partly be explained by their motivations to participate. We propose that advantaged group members can be motivated to participate in these movements (a) to improve the status of the disadvantaged group, (b) on the condition that the status of their own group is maintained, (c) to meet their own personal needs, and (d) because this behavior aligns with their moral beliefs. We identify potential antecedents and behavioral outcomes associated with these motivations before describing the theoretical contribution our article makes to the psychological literature."
- Decolonizing “Allyship” for Indian Country: Lessons from #NODAPL"In 2016, when #NODAPL first appeared in the mainstream media, many nonnative people approached me about how to support the water protectors. This question can be answered in a couple of ways: first, I might address the specific issue (actions that directly support those at Standing Rock), or second, I might respond more generally about how to be an ally to native people. The two responses highlight a current issue in Indian Country: should nonnatives serve as active bystanders—or should they be allies to native peoples? Being an ally has come under scrutiny, especially given its propensity for epistemic injustice. Some philosophers—such as Rachel McKinnon—argue for dismissing the concept altogether, requiring that individuals serve as active bystanders. Although this may be necessary to support individuals in the transgender community, it lacks the resources to fully address the needs of colonized peoples. In this article, I argue for the operationalization of “ally” in Indian Country insofar as it is subject to decolonizing treatment. Although there is a need for both bystanders and allies in Indian Country, the Indigenous people must define the concepts that are intended to serve them."
- No Offense? Some Terms and Phrases to Become Aware of, Potentially Avoid, and Why"Language, as a part of our everyday culture, is always evolving. This process can make it confusing and awkward to navigate how words have changed in meaning and use over time, especially when we learn our patterns of speech from the people around us of different ages, backgrounds, and opinions.
For these and other reasons, it is important to become aware of discussions surrounding the terminology we encounter in our daily lives, as it enables us to engage others respectfully and become more responsible members of society. It is natural that these terms sometimes produce anxiety and uncertainty, or even be uncomfortable to think about, especially if we have used them in the past or present, and if we are accustomed to speaking or thinking a certain way." - Pledging to Disrupt Systemic Racism in Higher Education Advocacy"It happened again. I recently received an email inviting me to register for a panel discussion on the effects of Covid-19 on higher education. The panel included several people I know; I respect each person on the panel, and all of their work. But there was a problem, and you probably already know what it was. Everyone on the panel was White. Across a full panel of experts discussing this of all topics, how could there not be a single voice from a person of color?"
- The Real Work Of Being An Ally“Never in a generation have women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community more dearly needed active allies to counter inequality.”
- Speak Up: Responding to Everyday Bigotry"The Southern Poverty Law Center gathered hundreds of stories of everyday bigotry from people across the United States. They told their stories through e-mail, personal interviews and at roundtable discussions in four cities. People spoke about encounters in stores and restaurants, on streets and in schools. No matter the location or relationship, the stories echo each other."
Books
Me and White Supremacy
Call Number: Lockwood Library General Collection HT1575 .S23 2020 (and Online)
ISBN: 9781728209807
Publication Date: 2020-01-28
Me and White Supremacy teaches readers how to dismantle the privilege within themselves so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of color, and in turn, help other white people do better, too.
Saad, L. F. (2020). Me and white supremacy : combat racism, change the world, and become a good ancestor. Sourcebooks.
White People and Black Lives Matter
Call Number: Lockwood Library General Collection E185.615 .L88 2019
ISBN: 9783030224882
Publication Date: 2019-08-14
This book interrogates white responses to black-led movements for racial justice. It is a philosophical self-reflection on the ways in which 'white' reactions to Black Lives Matter stand in the way of the movement's important work. It probes reactions which often prevent white people from according to black activists the full range of human emotion and expression, including joy, anger, mourning, and political action. Johanna C. Luttrell encourages different conceptions of empathy and impartiality specific to social movements for racial justice, and addresses objections to identity politics.
Luttrell, J. C. (2019). White people and Black Lives Matter : ignorance, empathy, and justice. Palgrave Macmillan.
White Fragility
The New York Times best-selling book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality. In this "vital, necessary, and beautiful book" (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and "allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to 'bad people' (Claudia Rankine). Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively. Download readers guides at www.beacon.org/whitefragility.
DiAngelo, Robin, and Michael Eric Dyson. 2018. White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism. 1st ed. New York: Beacon Press.
So You Want to Talk about Race
"...Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to "model minorities" in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life...."
Oluo, Ijeoma. 2019. So You Want to Talk about Race. First trade paperback edition. New York, NY: Seal Press.
