28/03/2020
Some Ways White People Can Make Life Less Frustrating For People of Color
Adapted from a list created by Kesiena Boom
Here is a small sampling of advice from Kesiena Boom in an article published by Vice in 2018. For the entire list of 100 suggestions check out this LINK but be warned: It has language that some may find offensive.
1. Just because you can’t see racism around you doesn’t mean it's not happening. Trust people of color’s assessment of a situation.
7. Don’t assume that a person of color knows everything about their country of heritage. Do you know everything there is to know about America? Germany? Sweden? That’s what I thought.
14. When you endlessly complain about how terrible white people are, you are being that terrible white person. Jeez.
17. Never try and tell a person of color what is or isn't racist.
35. If you’re upper or middle class try to avoid moving into an area that has historically been populated by low-income people of color. Gentrification tears communities apart.
38. In general, just don’t assume we want to be white or want to assimilate. And don’t pressure us to do so.
44. Remember that it is Black women and Native women and mixed race women who are most likely to be r***d in their lifetimes in America. You cannot be an advocate against sexual violence without considering the impact of race.
56. If you have a partner of color or children of color, trust and believe that you can still be racist. You’re not exempt. If anything, you have even more of a duty to examine your behavior for the benefit of your loved ones.
59. Look around your workplace—are the only people of color cleaners or assistants? What can you do to change that? (The answer is almost never “nothing.”)
62. Refuse to speak on an all-white panel. Regardless of the topic.
67. Don’t say things like “there are two sides to every story!” or play devil’s advocate when it comes to conversations about race.
71. Research your candidates. Who has progressive policies that won’t needlessly criminalize people of color? Vote for them.
72. Remember that Black women are not here to save you from yourselves. You’ve gotta put in the work, too.
74. Use your white privilege to be on the frontline between people of color and the police at protests. You’re at much less risk than us.
76. Share alerts when ICE is planning a raid.
77. Stand up to Islamophobia wherever you see it.
89. Understand that America has what it has because it stole land from indigenous people and stole people from Africa.
90. Care about race on the 364 days that aren’t Martin Luther King Jr. day.
99. Recognize that fighting racism isn't about you, it's not about your feelings; it's about liberating people of color from a world that tries to crush us at every turn.
100. And remember: Being an ally is a verb, not a noun. You can’t just magically be an ally to people of color because you say you’re one, it's something that you must continually work on.
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO READ OTHER ARTICLES IN THE MARCH 2020 EDITION OF THE ASBURY VOICE: https://conta.cc/2vSSXmH