Ten Ways to Be an Effective Ally: A Guide for White and Non-Black People of Color
As so many people take steps towards racial justice, I'm often asked how to be an effective ally. Where should one begin? Joining the fight for racial equity and justice may seem daunting if you fear making a mistake. While understandable, change can’t happen unless we step out of our comfort zones of complacency. It's easy to let others take the reins and sit back, but this is the time for collective action.
I’ve compiled ten ways to be an effective ally both inside and outside of the workplace. While this is by no means a comprehensive guide, these are a few simple yet powerful actions we can all take, no matter our location or occupation.
1. Become comfortable with the uncomfortable.
By its nature, racism is uncomfortable to talk about. It is uncomfortable to hear about because, when listening, you have to accept that you have the privilege to learn about it, rather than to experience it. Remember that being the one to share stories about racism is not easy. Listen to the voices that have been oppressed, and listen to understand, not to speak about your own struggles.
2. Self-reflect. Do it honestly, not through rose-colored glasses.
A lot of us feel guilty about the actions that we could have taken, or things we could have said to stand up for someone else. We all make mistakes. Recognize the mistakes you have made that may have perpetuated the system that has oppressed BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and other marginalized groups.
3. Assume responsibility and take real individual action.
After reflecting, do not ask your Black friends what to do or what certain phrases mean. It is not their responsibility to take the emotional and mental burden of educating you on a problem that affects us all. Take the time to assume responsibility and do research.
4. Educate yourself and share what you’ve learned with people.
Although I touched on this above, it is important to note that educating yourself is an important part of the journey. We are all still learning and will continue to do so. Share what you’ve learned with the people around you. Change starts with you, and it is your responsibility to spread the information you have learned.
5. Amplify Black, Brown, and Underrepresented Voices by utilizing your power and privilege.
Activism is essential, but the way in which you participate is equally important. If you are in a work meeting and your Black colleagues are speaking, amplify their voices, but do not speak for them. Similarly, do not speak over them. Allow them to share their opinions and experiences.
6. Recognize and call out microaggressions...
In any setting, build awareness of what you say to others...and what other people say as well. Comments that play into stereotypes or end in “… for a Black person,” such as “you speak so well for a Black person” are unacceptable. If one of your colleagues is being offensive, take them aside and explain to them what you are noticing and why it is wrong.
7. … but replace cancel culture with counsel culture.
Calling someone out is different from “cancel culture.” Instead of cancel culture, practice counsel culture. After you take someone aside, you should hold them accountable for the problematic thing that they said or done, giving them the space to grow from their mistakes.
8. Don’t just be diverse, be inclusive.
Diversifying your hires is simply a preliminary step towards being anti-racist. The next is to ensure a safe working environment, which IBIS can help you do. Learn about your company’s employee resource groups (ERGs) and advocate for their meetings.
9. What can you do as a non-Black person of color?
To be clear, all the steps above apply to both white people and people of color as well. Non-Black people of color are affected by workplace racism as well, but can also still be racist. We need to support our colleagues of color in every way we can.
10. Do not allow yourself to be silent or indifferent in a month or six months.
Recognize that being an ally is an ongoing process. In order to avoid optical allyship or performative activism, remember that silence and complicity allows for structural racism to continue. Taking these steps is not something that you do in a week or a month and check it off your list.
Because this is exactly that, a movement, not a moment. Change is not easy, but it is worth fighting for.
Shilpa Pherwani, the principal of IBIS and a leading expert in diversity and inclusion, has been guiding global organizations for over 16 years on leveraging diversity as a business advantage. An organizational psychologist by training, she partners with organizations to effect sustainable organizational change by conducting cultural assessments, developing comprehensive strategic diversity action plans, and designing compelling and interactive classroom-based and online training.
