Wednesday Whiteness: How to be a Black Ally

Being an ally, a person who is not a member of a particular group but seeks to help end the oppression of those marginalized, is a constant process. Allyship can mean different things to different people, and it can be tough to know how to start.

As a white person, I recognize I will never truly understand what it is like to be a black or brown person living in America. I can read books about the black experience, watch movies, listen to black voices and engage in discussions. Still, I will never have the exact same experiences. I can, however, learn to be an ally, a friend and partner.  

If you Google search black ally, lots of resources pop up. One is from Southern Utah University. It includes simple tips like:

• Stop telling racist jokes and stop laughing at racist jokes.
• Understand that black people face struggles that we do not.
• Be intolerant of intolerance.
• Confront your racism. Don't be fragile or fall back on guilt.
• Be proactive about inclusion in your daily life. Do the work to be inclusive.

SUU also suggests actions like:

• Temper knee-jerk reaction to be offended. Do a little research to educate yourself.
• Actively diversify your media intake to include black voices.
• Teach children about race.
• Make an effort to diversify your social spheres by cultivating friendships with black and brown people.
• Stop discounting what we're learning about a black person's experience by sharing your own tales of woe.
• Use resources to support Black people, issues, businesses, and projects.
• VOTE!

10 Reasons to Support Black Lives Matter 

Blavity shared additional resources for becoming a white ally.

1. Understand racism. In basic terms, prejudice + privilege + power = racism.  

Prejudice is a preconceived feeling, belief, or emotion against a person of a different ethnic, cultural, economic, religious, spiritual, and/or sexual group.
Privilege is an unearned advantage or benefit.
Power is the ability to successfully and methodically exert influence.
Together, these forces compose racism.

2. Understand white privilege.

All white people have privilege to varying degrees. I grew up in a working class family, lower middle class compared to my peers in school. At times I felt judged and shunned though I never experienced institutional racism.

3. Become familiar with intersectionality.

The pro-Black struggle is not one dimensional. Although race is a large factor in oppression, levels of subjugation differ due in part to gender and sexual orientation. Although measuring oppression is risky business, it’s undeniable that a poor Black queer woman is systematically discriminated against more so than a rich Black cis-gendered heterosexual male. This is intersectionality; the way we measure the interplay of oppression among a conglomerate of socioeconomic markers. The more we consider the intersection of oppression, the better we can dismantle the magnitude to intricate socio-political forces.

4. Take ownership over your own education.

Instead of asking Black people to explain things to you, take responsibility for your own education. NEVER assume that such an undertaking is a Black or Brown person’s responsibility. Educate yourself.

5. Respect Black and Brown spaces.

In a time of racial intensity, Black and Brown people need personal spaces for emotional and mental healing. By nature of white privilege, white inclusion in such spaces is a distraction.

6. Do not tell Black and Brown folk what they *must* or *must not* do.

It is not our place to tell others what to do. It’s ok to offer suggestions, but only if asked first.  

In the spirit of sharing softer news and/or silly vibes:

Wanda Sykes remarks at 2009 White House Correspondents Dinner.   

Daily pandemic update:  

India and Pakistan saw the deadliest day of the pandemic with more than 2,000 deaths in India and 140 in Pakistan.  Aljazeera.com timeline

17 June 2020	Cases		Deaths		Recovered
10:54 GMT*	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today
World	8,137,199	8,287,295	439,583	446,667	4,249,463	4,341,849
US	2,182,979	2,208,486	118,286	119,133	890,015	903,136
NY	405,139	405,785	30,952	30,998	86,091	86,221
CT	45,235	45,349	4,204	4,210	8,692	8,764
NC	45,113	45,906	1,140	1,169	29,219	29,219

A moment of silence for those we’ve lost to coronavirus, including the first 100 and the first 100,000 in the US.

As of today 12% of closed cases in the US resulted in death; 88% recovered.

Globally 9% of closed cases resulted in death worldwide; 91% recovered.

Currently 2% of all active cases are considered serious or critical.

*Documenting time of day because real time data updates continuously.
Tracking specific states:  NY is US epicenter. Son Reid lives in CT. I live in NC. 
Worldometers     Coronainusa     Starsexpress2020     https://ncov2019.live/

In the news: 

• Actor Terry Crews clarified his views about dismantling white supremacy.
• Alleged boogaloo extremist Steven Carrillo was charged for murder of federal officer during protest; accomplice Robert Alvin Justus Jr charged with aiding and abetting.
• Google urged right wing Federalist blog to moderate comments to minimize dangerous and derogatory content. Twitter had temporarily restricted Federalist account for sharing disinformation in March.
• India-China border dispute continues after 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
• Lincoln Project released a new video claiming Trump is not well. Republican Voters Against Trump also released videos criticizing the president.
• Martin Gugino, 75-year-old protester pushed by Buffalo NY police, has a fractured skull and is unable to walk.
• NE democratic party called on nominee Chris Janicek to drop out of senate race after sexually repugnant group text with staffers.
• OK State U Coach Gundy apologized for wearing OAN shirt and announced black lives matter to him.
• Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Bill Johnson pled guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter from 2018 wildfire ignited by PG&E’s crumbling electrical grid.
• SC protestors on both sides of confederate monument debate peacefully discussed opposing views.
• Senator Tim Kaine was criticized for saying US created slavery.
• Supreme Court ruled a new 600-mile natural gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline developed by Duke Energy and Dominion Energy could cross underneath the Appalachian Trail on federal land. The vote was 7-2 as Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented.
• Trump mentioned AIDS vaccine which does not exist. Also, Trump signed executive order on policing as he falsely accused Obama administration of making no effort to stop abusive policing.
• TX Gov Greg Abbott criticized young people for not following health guidance.
• US Open tennis tournament will be held in NY without fans.
• UK researchers announced steroid drug dexamethasone cut COVID-19 risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. Some doctors expressed skepticism and urged cautious data review.
• VP Mike Pence said cases in OK declined when curve actually spiked higher in recent weeks. Tulsa infection rate is rising steadily after remaining moderate for months. Health dept director said he hoped Trump rally will be postponed, noting large indoor gatherings are partially to blame for recent spread. OK Gov Kevin Stitt, a republican, said he suggested larger, outdoor venue to accommodate bigger crowd.

NC News

• Greensboro lawsuit against 8 police officers involved in death of Marcus Smith may be delayed. Smith died in 2018 while hogtied in police custody.
• Mocksville mom and son saw teens reenact George Floyd scene in parking lot.
• Raleigh city council voted unanimously to mandate face masks to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to reallocate $500,000 from streetscape program to bikeways program to build more protected bike lanes. Proposed FY20-21 budget was unanimously approved though police request for additional $2.8 million for mental health and homelessness unit, animal control officers, and family violence intervention unit detective was denied. 21CP Solutions consulting firm will evaluate Raleigh police response to protests.

In my personal life…

Tuesday was a grey rainy day. Minerva and I napped intermittently while Greg did housework and watched tv. He opened the kitchen window for fresh air which felt unexpectedly nice this time of year. The high temperature of 58 was a new record; average temps in mid June are usually around 85. As the sun was about to set we slogged outside to pick ripe blackberries and raspberries from the garden.

Greg and I ate cantaloupe and watermelon for breakfast. I also ate 2 bananas as a mid morning snack. I napped through lunch; not sure what Greg ate. For linner we enjoyed California burritos from El Maguey with chips and salsa.

My daily action for racial justice Tuesday was introspective; reading, thinking and writing.