Allyship to Black people and communities is important because it promotes social justice, challenges systemic and institutional racism, and creates a more inclusive and equitable society for everyone. But what is allyship and how can non-Black people support Black communities and how can we avoid performative or tokenistic allyship?

What is an ally?

An ally is a person who uses their time, resources, privilege and power to support marginalised communities. It involves actively working to dismantle systemic barriers to create a more equal and fair society. To be an ally to Black communities, it is important that we listen to Black voices, amplify their messages, reflect on our biases and take concrete actions. As allies, we need to take accountability for our own learning, unlearning, self-reflection and actions.

What are some actions that can be taken?

Listen and learn: Listen to what Black people say about their experiences. This can be done by following Black content creators, reading books and articles written by Black people, and attending anti-racist conferences and events. It is also important that we seek a variety of views of people with lived experiences that we can learn from. It is important to remember that one person’s experience or perspective does not speak for all people of that community.

Amplify Black voices: We need to use our platforms to amplify Black voices and messages. One way we can do this is by sharing articles and posts of the Black writers, creators and activists that we have learned from and actively engage with their content.

Speak out: Speak out against racism and injustice when you see it. Challenge stereotypes and misinformation, and work on having constructive conversations with friends and family members. This can be difficult and awkward at first, but with practice it becomes more natural.

Take concrete action: Take concrete actions to support Black causes. This can include supporting Black-owned businesses, donating to organisations that support Black communities, amplifying Black voices and supporting and/or attending protests.

Avoid tokenism: Don’t limit support to performative actions. This can include only showing support via social media without any learning, self-reflection, or actions, or only attending events when racial justice is trending. These are all signs of performative or tokenistic allyship. Being an ally is more than listening, learning, reflection, or action alone, it is a combination of these and much, much more.

The complexities of allyship

Allyship is a recursive process. As social structures evolve, allyship evolves. It's also important to recognise that allyship is not one-size-fits-all. Everyone has different opinions and experiences when it comes to allyship. Part of being an ally is being adaptable and becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. Everyone will make mistakes at times but being accountable for our mistakes and learning from them is part of the process.

We are all in this together

Dismantling racism is the responsibility of everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, social background, gender, or age. It requires active participation and engagement from individuals, communities and institutions at all levels, including students, lecturers and leaders. Through recognising that anti-racism is a collective responsibility, we can work together towards creating a more just and equitable society for all.

Sarah Palmer is a Second Year Psychology student at Leeds Trinity University and co-organiser of the Black Lives Matter conference.