Before we begin it’s important to define a few things;
According to the Urban Dictionary, the term “white savior” refers to “western people going in to ‘fix’ the problems of struggling nations or people of color without understanding their history, needs, or the region’s current state of affairs.” Basically also stating that if you have ANY OTHER ulterior motive in supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement, then you are in fact a white savior. It can stem back to the idea of “toxic charity” doing something for a minority or group that needs it, but not asking what they need in the first place, and making your actions only have weight because they benefit you in some way, shape or form. Let’s be clear, it is indeed human nature to be inherently selfish, however; the implications of your actions are almost more important than the actual actions themselves. By posting that picture without truly understanding why you’re doing it, you are contributing to creating a culture of white saviors who only perpetuate this system further.
INSERT DEFINITION FOR WHITE ALLIES HERE!!
Understand that showing up and making a few mistakes is OK. It’s important to show up and show your support in solidarity no matter what mistakes you have made, as long as you are open to learning and growing from those.
Know your SH*T! Make it your top priority to educate yourself on systemic oppression, how you have perpetuated that, and what you can do in the future to reverse that.
Facilitate conversations within your communities. Do not be afraid to re-educate your subtly ignorant white peers on their previous misconceptions.
Process your guilt at home, ALONE. Writing about it, talk about it with your white peers and family members. You are justified to your own emotions, but preserve social media as a sacred space for Black and POC voices to be amplified.
Listen. Listen. LISTEN. Now is not the time to talk about yourself, we cannot stress that enough.
Understand that becoming a authentic and supportive anti-racist black ally doesn’t happen in a day, or a week, or a month. This will take time.
HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE ! We cannot stress thing one enough. Do not be afraid to hold yourself accountable for the mistakes you have made. Not only this, be gracious and responsive when accepting criticism about your actions. You will gain so much more respect and understanding from the experience, you might just not see it immediately, and that is okay.
Understand and acknowledge that by being white, you are inherently racist. You are contributing to a system that benefits you and oppresses others based on skin color. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s how Black people have felt for the past 500 or so years.
Ask what you are doing wrong. Research and find your errors through educating yourself. It is not the job of Black people to explain to us how to be anti-racist, nor why what we are doing is wrong.
Do not take part in performative activism. Do not repost information because the colors are aesthetically pleasing. Do not post a petition if you haven’t signed it. If you are posting so as not to be called out for your silence, re-evaluate your thought process. If you do this, you are contributing to the Black Lives Matter movement becoming a trend, rather than a movement.
Don’t burden your Black friends with your own white guilt. If you are feeling embarrassed or ashamed, that means you are reflecting, get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. If you are not angry you are not paying attention. It comforts the ‘activist,’ relieving them of guilt and making them feel fulfilled.
Isolate yourself from people who don’t share the same views as you. Facilitate conversations, provide other perspectives and ask questions. It is your job to educate other white people on their privilege and their past and present errors.
