What is an ally?

These two short articles by a white gender fluid writer, Invictus Animus and one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, Alicia Garza, discuss what an “ally” means to them. Good introductions to the concept.

• Invictus Animus, Why "Ally" is a Verb, Not a Noun. 2005

• Alicia Garza, Ally or co-conpirator? What it Means to Act #InSolidarity. 2016

This Vox article by Emily Stewart, explores the perspectives from "[t]hree experts on what it does and doesn’t mean to be an ally, now and always".

Emily Stewart, How to be a Good White Ally, 2020.

HOW DO WE OPENLY FACE OUR OWN FEARS AND GAPS IN OUR KNOWLEDGE?

Gozum provides a thoughtful and honest discussion about his process of overcoming fears in learning about becoming a better ally.

• Gozum, Billy. Overcome Your Fear to Be a Better Ally, 2020.

Adichie’s TED talk provides an important perspective on how hearing – and believing – only one story about a culture or group of people, can inhibit a full understanding of that community.

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story TED Global 2009

Funchess talks about how for good or ill, we all make assumptions about people they don’t know. She talks about how to recognize these assumptions and work toward a common understanding.

• Melanie Funchess - Implicit Bias - how it effects us and how we push through TEDx Flour City 2014

RESOURCES ON WHITENESS, FEAR, KNOWLEDGE GAPS

A personal essay on one woman’s evolution to understanding what it means to be white.

• Renegademama: How I Discovered I am White.

A post from Instagram providing a visual aid to the process of confronting and understanding race. He divides the process into “the fear zone, the learning zone and the growth zone.”

• @nifakaniga aka #colonelashyknees Becoming anti-racist.

A look at what “Karen” means and examples of using white privilege to gain the upper hand. From NBC Think

• “Karens have been going viral. But their behavior is not new – and its dangerous.”

Article by Ruth Terry:

• "George Floyd shows Black folks don't need more 'allies.' We need active bystanders."

Ruth Terry: "George Floyd shows Black folks don't need more 'allies.' We need active bystanders."

Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice by Corinne Shutack

This is a list that continues to grow from the orignial 75 items to nearly 100 that white people can do to enact and support racial justice.

Murphy-Shigamatsu, Stephen. "How to Sustain Your Activism"

Psychologist discusses how having purpose/meaning in life, connect to others, and self care can help sustain activism over a lifetime.

Global Fund for Women, Self-Care and Sustaining Activism: Infographic.

Authors provide basic information about collective and self-care and offer suggestions.

Trimarco, Beth. Activist Guilt and Self Care in the Trump Era.

Short opinion piece acknowledging the guilt activists may feel and how to deal with these feelings.

Commons Librarian, 10 Great Resources on Activist Well Being.

Curated list of resources linked through the Commons Library for Social Change.

Maressa Brown's - "6 Reasons 'All Lives Matter' Doesn't Work—in Terms Simple Enough for a Child."

A short article explaining what is and is not meant when we say "Black Lives Matter."

Sage Newsletter: Social Science Can Make a Difference.

Sage Publishers' newsletter provides links to a wide range of academic and other resources on race, policing and related issues.

Michael, A. et, al. Becoming an Anti-Racist White Ally: How a White Affinity Group Can Help from Perspectives on Urban Education, Spring 2009.

A discussion of the experience of one anti-racist affinity group developed at a college.

Racial Equity Tools, links to a wide range of resources.

From their website: "Racial Equity Tools is designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. This site offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large."