"Anyone has the potential to be an ally. Allies recognize that though they’re not a member of the underinvested and oppressed communities they support, they make a concerted effort to better understand the struggle, every single day."In the simplest terms, antiracism refers to intentional acts that are calculated to weaken racist institutions or mindsets, while the term allyship refers to ways in which persons from advantaged groups (Whites, in the case of racism) work to challenge and attempt dismantle systems, institutions, or mindsets that are biased against disadvantaged groups (persons of color, in this case). Both kinds of work require concerted, life-long effort. An important point about race allyship is that those who are trying to support communities of color should not declare themselves as allies; rather they should engage in antiracist work, building trust with persons of color, and if they are consistent and really engaged others will recognize them as allies, a valuable insight from Beyond Inclusion, Beyond Engagement by SMU professor of counseling, Dr. Leticia Nieto.
"3" by Philip Cohen, CC BY-SA
To marginalized groups, it is crucial that hopeful allies really dig in and support them in deeper, more profound ways. Would-be allies who do not really commit to substantive support are guilty of being performative or optical allies, meaning their support can be shallow and even damaging to marginalized communities.
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