A very good video by Trevor Noah too.
I also recommend his book called "Born a Crime" about growing up in South Africa under Apartheid.
I also recommend his book called "Born a Crime" about growing up in South Africa under Apartheid.
Thank you very much for posting this.Thanks for being so patient with me trying to formulate a response. Work got on top of me.
So to answer "What can white allies do on social media and off"?
1. Start conversations with your fellow white people (especially the ones who are not allies yet)
- Don't wait for black people to start the conversation constantly, this is a relay race so we are passing the baton as honestly, we are tired.
- These conversations can be about on current affairs happening within black communities such as George Floyd and grow from there.
- Raise unconscious bias questions such as have you ever questioned being in a room just filled with white people, your interactions with police, your position on dating outside your race, assumptions you have made about other races in the past?
- It is perfectly OK if you have changed your initial stance on these bias, but by starting the conversation with other white people you can make them aware of things they may never have thought to question. (For example, my friend put forward the question for her white followers to note how many other races were in the room at team meetings, something they had never questioned, yet after than initial conversation it made them rethink) - in the current climate, you could alter this as how many other races do you follow on your socials? Some people will be shocked.
2. Embrace the Uncomfortable
- You all saw the interaction here on Tattle when I made a clear point and instead of the responder understanding, a poorly formed Snickers joke was made -- and that is because of white fragility which makes white people uncomfortable so instead of trying to understand - jokes are cracked, the subject is changed, defensive go up, disagreeing without understanding and the final nail "All Lives Matter" is uttered.
- As I said you have to feel uncomfortable because that is a small margin in comparison to what black people deal with.
- Question "why do I feel this way"? - investigate those emotions that make you uncomfortable instead of shutting them down.
2. Unlearn the rhetoric: "I don't see Color"
- Wild right?
- Some white allies I know use to think some of the things they said were socially acceptable, but really they were overtly racist statements e.g. "I don't see color" -- unlearn that.
- Don't be scared to say black because if you have two Debbies are one is black, just say it because you can definitely see her colour and that is a part of her.
- So yes you see color - because if you don't you are not seeing your black friends, family, coworkers and you don't see the unequal infrastructure and injustice.
- Jane Elliot (one of my fav white allies) spoke about this here (I would implore you to watch the whole video, but 9.44 is where she begins the conversation), also check out her experiment called "How Racist Are You" on brown and blue eyes she did in the UK on Channel 4 a few years ago here.
3. Use resources, not just black people
- After unlearning you have to relearn and although it's great to have these conversations, black people are exhausted so we can't always be the go-to. So books, films and Google are great resources.
- As I once said to my friend "you cannot say you are well-read, when every book you read is by a white author"
- Join a book club and bring that book as your choice to discuss further
- By reading and watching various sources, you become less of an echo chamber with similar people, you get an insight into issues you may not have known about or known how to approach
- Learn slowly and intentional, not just for the sake of learning
Some of my recommended are:
Books:
Films
- The New Jim Crow - Michelle Alexander
- Why I am No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge
- The Good Immigrant - Nikesh Shukla
- Brit(ish) - Afua Hirsch
- So You Want To Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo
- Natives - Akala
- Tears We Cannot Stop - Michael Eric Dyson
- They Can't Kill Us All - Wesley Lowery
- White Fragility - Robin DiAngelo
- Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? - Beverly Daniel Tatum
- White Rage - Carol Anderson
- Sidenote: I do not recommend things I have not read or watched myself, so this is a personal list
- When They See Us
- If Beale Street Could Talk
- The Hate U Give
- Dear White People
- Selma
- The Color Purple
- Hidden Figures
3. Curate diverse social medias
- This will help keep you informed and out of the echo chamber.
- With diverse, share and comment on these activists posts. Ask questions so you are constantly learning (plus it allows others who may come across the post and have the same question, have a better understanding)
This way you can also help boost the voices of black people and be aware of what is going on when you receive backlash (because trust me you will, not everyone wants a fairer society and you realise that via social media). This will give you a platform to denounce things if you don't racism wins.
- Use your feed to not only like and learn, but speak out, as MLK Jr said "to ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it"
3. Accept your white privilege
- I know many who hate the term, roll their eyes and scoff but its a necessity to accept and acknowledge.
- It also takes a lot of introspectiveness from white people and again can be uncomfortable unpacking these conversations.
- Remember white privilege is not saying you haven't had a hard life or invaliding that, it just notes your skin colour did not add to it
- Use your privilege for good in many of the ways listed in this post - if you have children teach them about this, the younger the better
- If you constantly fight against this, I am sorry but you can never truly be an ally with your eyes shut whilst benefiting from a system that consistently fails black people.
4. Financially help
- There are great organisations out there such as ROTA, Race Equality Foundation, NAACP, Color of Change.
- If that's not possible sign petitions, AND keep the conversation alive. Share it between friends and talk about why you are sharing it.
- As noted, I said not to use black people you know as your go-to Google, but if you have events, workshops, programmes on race and know someone who could contribute and earn from this - ask them. You get to play a part in financially helping and also spreading knowledge.
4. Call them Out!
- That's right - call out your problematic friends, family members etc, "Silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor"
- Call out your councillors, MPs, Mayors via email, letter - step on their necks and make them feel the pressure!
- To be a good ally, we need to see you doing the work!
- It is no longer enough to say "I'm not racist", you have to show your anti-racism through your actions.
Lastly, this is life long work, and now you can understand why black people are tired. So as a white ally, you need to daily acknowledge your own racial bias and commit to dismantling it within.
This movement cannot be led solely by black people. If we want real change, we need real allyship.
Thanks for reading this, the last couple days have been extremely tough - this really pushed my buttons as my brother was killed due to police brutality (why I left NYC and came back to the UK), but the white allies I had made after has truly shown me change can happen if people are willing to acknowledge and work for it.
Are American Girl dolls available in the UK? https://www.americangirl.com/shop/c/dollsI just went on the website of the toy shop in my country they have 3 pages of dolls and all of them are white!!
Most of the people here on this thread (hell prob 90%) are in the UK, and don’t realize how deep hatred runs in this country.@GossWhore thanks so much for that comprehensive post. I really wanted to make a donation to a relevant charity, was having a search around the last couple of days for a Black Lives Matter but that didn’t seem to be a charitable organisation as such.... anyway the Race Equality Foundation is perfect and I’ve just donated.
@EiiiEiiiO I will preface this with an apology as I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings and I can sense some of your pain in your words. And I was going to leave it and not say anything, but then read back about calling stuff out and being brave... but it is not appropriate or acceptable to come in to a conversation about white allyship and the recent crimes perpetrated against black people and dominate the narrative with your explanation of how hard done by you are as a white person. It is the very definition of white fragility and whataboutery. Now some other posters, probably some of them black who have been gently explaining to white people about racism since time began, have had to take time to AGAIN explain to a white woman why she has white privilege. On a thread about being a white ally.
If you have concerns about anti Semitism and xenophobia, start a thread or a discussion forum about it. Do not monopolise this space that a black woman has created to discuss the very urgent emergency that is happening to black people at the moment.
I say this as an Ashkenazi Jew with a very Jewish name who looks so Jewish you can call me Jewy McJewson and everyone would know who you meant. I don’t dismiss your concerns or your upset, but this is not the time or place or moment for anyone white to cry hard done by.
In the interest of supporting BAME-owned businesses, does anyone have any recommendations?Those looking for a black doll for their children https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8844440?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=ixwliitxl&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157|acid:629-618-1342|cid:9560115721|agid:101739071407|tidla-891288516916|crid:422913086544|nw:g|rnd:10648770023125891693|dvc|adp:|mt:|loc:9046033&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=9560115721&utm_term=8844440&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=101739071407&utm_custom2=629-618-1342&gclid=CjwKCAjwq832BRA5EiwACvCWscU2npgI8dHhVMfeGNPRJinpskugMYTzAgHTg5ovwC--ow4bggtG1hoCkLYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I think what I’ll do is ensure any new dolls going forward are black until we have a realistic ethnic mix although where are the Asian dolls?
I did notice that black dolls are either v expensive (one was £176!!) or met Another “quality” -(google black doll and 3 black dolls with Down syndrome came up) As brilliant and dolls with DS is it feels a bit like ticking as many boxes as you can in one toy.
I don’t know how old your child is but Bratz always have done an amazing job at representation. I played with them as a child and they’re the only dolls I remember showing different cultures and races and having them all be really glamorous. Definitely worth having a look at (or keeping in mind when your child is a little older!)Those looking for a black doll for their children https://www.argos.co.uk/product/884...Tg5ovwC--ow4bggtG1hoCkLYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I think what I’ll do is ensure any new dolls going forward are black until we have a realistic ethnic mix although where are the Asian dolls?
I did notice that black dolls are either v expensive (one was £176!!) or met Another “quality” -(google black doll and 3 black dolls with Down syndrome came up) As brilliant and dolls with DS is it feels a bit like ticking as many boxes as you can in one toy.
yes that’s true of course xIn the interest of supporting BAME-owned businesses, does anyone have any recommendations?
I struggled to find a doll for my daughter’s birthday but stumbled across a Spanish company called Miniland. They have boy/girl dolls of different races - black, white, Asian, Latino/a - and aren’t hugely expensive (£16-24 on Amazon, a bit more expensive if you buy through a small business). I like that the dolls have different features rather than the typical using the same moulds with different coloured plastic - the black girl doll also has curly hair. They are anatomically correct. Finally, they have a sweet vanilla smell which doesn’t seem to fade - my daughter’s doll still smells lovely after six months
They’re also one of the companies that produce black Down’s syndrome dolls. It’s worth noting there is also a white version. Personally I don’t think it’s box-ticking in this case - dolls are becoming more diverse but it is still often a case of ‘you can’t have both’. This leaves BAME parents torn between getting a doll that looks like their kid in terms of race OR in terms of disability. Finding a doll that reflects both can mean so much to children and their parents alike
Yes I spoke to husband just now and he pointed out she has block LOL dolls. Will keep in mind the bratzI don’t know how old your child is but Bratz always have done an amazing job at representation. I played with them as a child and they’re the only dolls I remember showing different cultures and races and having them all be really glamorous. Definitely worth having a look at (or keeping in mind when your child is a little older!)
They are all just posting the same stuff, doubt any of them have actually read up on it. This isn't the first time something like this has happened, but again it's just something to join in with, trying to let people know they care!! They care about where the next freebee is coming from.I don’t think it’s fair to say this is a “bandwagon”. Some of them may be sharing posts because they would be called out on their silence otherwise but anything bringing awareness and support to the BLM movement is going to be a positive thing in my opinion and not something to criticise.
Racism is most definitely not a "bandwagon". I don't think there is any harm in sharing anything.....with such a big following it's something that can only do good. Its one of those things that if she doesn't say anything then she's oblivious to what is going on around her and if she does then she's just jumping on the "bandwagon"They are all just posting the same stuff, doubt any of them have actually read up on it. This isn't the first time something like this has happened, but again it's just something to join in with, trying to let people know they care!! They care about where the next freebee is coming from.
Looking at videos today and it looks like the Nike shops in USA are pretty trashed.
It's just another bandwagon, soon to be forgotten when the next one comes along.
Its really weird before I thought all stories I read were trickled down to my white friends.This is a really powerful video and breaks it all down so well. I did not know about the Amy Cooper video and am absolutely appalled but sadly not surprised that a white person would do that. (A Black man was birdwatching in an area of Central Park where dogs must be on a leash. Amy's dog was not on a leash and he politely tells her that it needs to be. Amy says: "I am going to call the police and tell them an African American man is threatening my life." And she calls the police and says exactly that. She KNEW what she was doing and used it as a weapon against him. Absolutely vile. Thankfully he filmed the incident on his phone). I also did not know about Emmett Till but just spent some time reading about it. Horrific.e
agreed. I’d rather every crappy instagrammed stop everything and share the BLM ‘bandwagon’ all day long. She has 3M followers and as a white person it is duty (if she wants to be a decent human being) to encourage at least 1% of those 3M to read up and do better. We’re all learning but sharing black voices and this hashtag in this struggle is essential.Racism is most definitely not a "bandwagon". I don't think there is any harm in sharing anything.....with such a big following it's something that can only do good. Its one of those things that if she doesn't say anything then she's oblivious to what is going on around her and if she does then she's just jumping on the "bandwagon"
The author of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about race doesn't want to make a profit from the book and has asked people to find her book for free and donate what they would of spent to black organisationsI went online this evening to order Some books, Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race and White Privilege, I only tried ethical sites because it feels disingenuous to order these books on a site that pays little to no tax... they were sold out everywhere !! That fills me with hope, thank you @GossWhore for sharing so freely and taking time to educate, I know that takes so much emotional energy to do but I’m so thankful to have people like you to learn from.
Thank you for that link! I was going to buy it but I will do exactly that.The author of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about race doesn't want to make a profit from the book and has asked people to find her book for free and donate what they would of spent to black organisations
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge (Ebook) - Read free for 30 days
'Every voice raised against racism chips away at its power. We can't afford to stay silent. This book is an attempt to speak' *Updated edition featuring a new afterword* The book that sparked a national conversation. Exploring everything from eradicated black history to the inextricable link...www.scribd.com
Thank you! I donated to Black Lives Matter yesterday. I got an ereader and will be reading most of the books listed on here. I might not be able to change the world but I can change me.The author of Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about race doesn't want to make a profit from the book and has asked people to find her book for free and donate what they would of spent to black organisations
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge (Ebook) - Read free for 30 days
'Every voice raised against racism chips away at its power. We can't afford to stay silent. This book is an attempt to speak' *Updated edition featuring a new afterword* The book that sparked a national conversation. Exploring everything from eradicated black history to the inextricable link...www.scribd.com