White ally guidelines

[loyalsister]

I think that these can be considered in an intersectional context, too. The main point being that ignoring homophobia, misogyny, ableism, and other bigotry represents complicity.

1. We understand that, as white people raised in a white supremacist society, we are racists. It is impossible to work to end racism without acknowledging the deep-seated racism that is taught to us from a very young age. White activists need not feel guilty about this, but rather we should feel obligated to dismantle racism, both inside ourselves and externally.

2. Among activists, racism doesn't always show itself in outbursts of anger or violence; more often it is found in everyday language, interactions, and assumptions that ultimately silence and devalue people of color.

3. Work to respect and listen to the voices and choices of people of color.

4. Actively support, encourage, and respect the leadership of people of color.

5. Offer support and assistance to activists working in communities of color. Acknowledge and respect the primary emergencies of these communities.

6. Work to counter the efforts of white supremacist and fascist groups.

7. Have the humility and courage to challenge oneself and learn from others about issues relating to race and white supremacy.

8. Do not participate in or condone racist humor. Do not use derogatory labels based upon race. Do not speak in stereotyped racial dialects.

9. Challenge racist behavior in your friends, family, associates, and political allies. When appropriate, end relationships with people who continue to encourage or practice racism.

10. Discuss racism with young people in your life. Help them to identify and confront racism, become better allies to people of color, and engage in working towards the end of white supremacy.

11. Commit to ongoing self-education on the history and theory of racial oppression. Do not speak as an authority on subjects that people of color directly experience and you do not. If you are to speak at all on such subjects, it should only be after people of color or if people of color ask you to do so.

12. The power of white supremacy is maintained to a large degree by institutions (housing, education, criminal in-justice, banking, culture, media, extraction, and so on), rather than by individual racists. Our primary work to end racism goes beyond confronting particular racists; ultimately, it requires dismantling racist institutions and culture.

13. Understand that when you choose to fight racism and imperialism, you are joining a protracted, centuries-old struggle which indigenous people and people of color have always been on the front lines of. As white people, we must allow those who have experienced these histories first hand to inform our resistance.

The guidelines established above represent a baseline for acceptable behavior. Following them is not exceptional, and does not merit reward. Choosing to ignore racist behavior will be seen as an act of collaboration with the culture of white supremacy.

http://deepgreenresistance.org/en/what-we-do/deep-green-resistance-white-ally-guidelines

[upaloopa]

1. I think this overstates the issue.

I am completely willing to stay out of these threads in the future if DU adopts this as it's position as stated here.
The thing that makes me feel bad is if you are White and you have spent a long life rejecting racism, a statement like this homogenizes all of us and doesn't allow us to feel good about our selves.

[bravenak]

3. Number 1 addresses that issue.

[unblock]

5. surely there's better wording than to say we "are racists" but need not feel guilty about it.

i understand an agree with the general point. it's impossible to grow up inundated with prejudiced messages and not have them permanently etched into your brain.

arguably, one could put every white person on a racism scale, with klan members and such way out on the high racism end of the scale, and white allies, people who diligently adhere to the rules of this post, on the low end. and one could also note that no one is a saint and everyone makes a mistake on the odd occasion, perhaps out of ignorance, alcohol, or a momentary lapse of reason. so in that sense all white people have at least a bit of this. we might think of this as an academic meaning of the term "racism".

but socially, the that particular term "racist" has a highly emotionally charged, meaning, including, at least for those on the low end of the racism scale, a tremendous amount of social guilt. for many of us, being called a racist may well be the most horrifying, humiliating, embarrassing things one could ever be called. so it seems problematic to use that highly emotionally charged, guilt-laden term, for this more academic meaning, especially intent is not to make anyone feel guilty.

perhaps better would be to clarify that it is impossible to avoid absorbing racist messages and that everyone is taught these lessons, and must constantly work to reject them, without labeling people who have absorbed the messages. i think the more appropriate term for someone who has absorbed our society's racist messages might be "human" or perhaps "anyone over the age of 6".


and from a purely politic angle, you don't win over white allies by leading off with calling them racists.

[AverageJoe90]

10. I like this okay, but I'd go a little farther, though.

There are some white folks that you couldn't put on a racism scale at all: of course, if we were just talking about *regular prejudice*(which can lead to bonafide racism but isn't the same thing), that would be different, as even many non-racist people have fallen prey to perpetrating other prejudices from time to time.

[bravenak]

31. It's not the fault of those who absorb the messaging.

It affects all of us. But I agree that racist is not quite accurate. More like oblivious to the problems with the messaging. Any one over six works for me.

[loyalsister]

7. For most of my life I did know things are easier for me because I'm white

And I have been angry about racism for as long as I can remember. But, I didn't see it as the privilege it is until recently. For most of my life, I did not question the advantages that come with my white skin. While not necessarily voluntary, there was a racist element to it. I accepted it heartily as a natural course without questioning why it wasn't true for everyone well into my college years.

I can remember a time when I had the urge to apologize for what white peers did. At the time, I felt good about myself. But rethinking it, I think it was a racist impulse. I ultimately identified with white racists by thinking I could apologize for them. And, I now see that it would also have been a condescending and offensive way to absolve myself of the guilt of not directly confronting the perpetrators.

[upaloopa]

20. I am a great believer in Malcolm X

He first called us the White devils. I can see why he had the rage he had.
Then he made a pilgrimage to Mecca and met White Muslims.
Before he was murdered he no longer preached about White devils. He taught that all of us are brothers and sisters. We all fight for what is right. We all suffer but we can't do anything unless we stand up as proud people no matter what color. That is the legacy of Malcolm X.

On his trip to Mecca, however, Malcolm meets unprejudiced white Muslims and reconsiders the views he has held for so many years against whites. Malcolm comes to see white racism as the unfortunate product of particular circumstances rather than as an indication that white people are inherently evil.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/malcolmx/study.html

After his Hajj, Malcolm X articulated a view of white people and racism that represented a deep change from the philosophy he had supported as a minister of the Nation of Islam. In a famous letter from Mecca, he wrote that his experiences with white people during his pilgrimage convinced him to "rearrange" his thinking about race and "toss aside some of [his] previous conclusions".[224] In a conversation with Gordon Parks, two days before his assassination, Malcolm said:
[L]istening to leaders like Nasser, Ben Bella, and Nkrumah awakened me to the dangers of racism. I realized racism isn't just a black and white problem. It's brought bloodbaths to about every nation on earth at one time or another. Brother, remember the time that white college girl came into the restaurant—​the one who wanted to help the [Black] Muslims and the whites get together—​and I told her there wasn't a ghost of a chance and she went away crying? Well, I've lived to regret that incident. In many parts of the African continent I saw white students helping black people. Something like this kills a lot of argument. I did many things as a [Black] Muslim that I'm sorry for now. I was a zombie then—​like all [Black] Muslims—​I was hypnotized, pointed in a certain direction and told to march. Well, I guess a man's entitled to make a fool of himself if he's ready to pay the cost. It cost me 12 years. That was a bad scene, brother. The sickness and madness of those days—​I'm glad to be free of them.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X

I think by listening to Malcolm we can be better than this OP

[loyalsister]

21. I think if we look closely, we probably agree

It helps to entertain the flip side of Malcom X's discovery.
I think there is a stereotype of how a racist behaves and looks that blocks us from examining the subtleties of racism.

[upaloopa]

22. Well we have to all live in our own skins and have our own feelings. Me I am not going live in

guilt. I can't do anything from a place of weekness.

I went to four James Brown concerts with my Black female co worker as a young adult. I usually was the only White person there. I loved the way he taught the kids to sing, "say it loud I'm Black and I'm proud." I loved him for that. I think he meant for me to be proud of who I am also.

In the current movie you can see how he would not let the industry tell him how he was supposed to live and act. My mom and dad thought me that I had to stay in my economic class. I followed the ideas of James Brown and rejected that idea as did Black kids who's parents taught them to keep in their place.

I think we are all brothers and are equal and this OP does not support that idea!

[me b zola]

4. K&R

[conservaphobe]

6. I think allies should be appreciated for whatever they contribute.

Nothing would turn me off more to fighting for social justice than "guidelines," especially when us allies are not the problem.

[loyalsister]

23. Like this ally?

He has black friends, expresses outrage at racism, is a hardcore Democrat who supported Obama from the start, criticizes racism in the tea party, has a figurine with a confederate flag sitting on his table, and is a member of the KKK.

"It's a symbol of southern rebellion," he says. And, he "didn't know any better when he joined the Klan and made some good friends he doesn't want to lose."

[AgingAmerican]

39. Does this "ally"

have a name?

[AverageJoe90]

41. No, I'm afraid it's just a strawman, A.A. nt

[loyalsister]

47. Yes he does

He lives in the same apartment building as me. 1 floor down. He can't imagine how anyone who lives here could be a republican.

[AgingAmerican]

51. So he is a fiercly loyal Obama Democrat

...kkk member?

Um....if you say so...

[loyalsister]

57. As was Robert Byrd, who was never a Republican

In 1997, Byrd told an interviewer he would encourage young people to become involved in politics but also warned, "Be sure you avoid the Ku Klux Klan. Don't get that albatross around your neck. Once you've made that mistake, you inhibit your operations in the political arena." In his last autobiography, Byrd explained that he was a KKK member because he "was sorely afflicted with tunnel vision — a jejune and immature outlook — seeing only what I wanted to see because I thought the Klan could provide an outlet for my talents and ambitions." Byrd also said, in 2005, "I know now I was wrong. Intolerance had no place in America. I apologized a thousand times ... and I don't mind apologizing over and over again. I can't erase what happened."

Late in his life, Byrd explicitly renounced his earlier views favoring racial segregation. Byrd said that he regretted filibustering and voting against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and would change it if he had the opportunity. He said joining the KKK was "the greatest mistake I ever made." Byrd also said that his views changed dramatically after his teenage grandson was killed in a 1982 traffic accident, which put him in a deep emotional valley. "The death of my grandson caused me to stop and think," said Byrd, adding he came to realize that African-Americans love their children as much as he does his.

On May 19, 2008, Byrd endorsed Barack Obama (D-Illinois). One week after the West Virginia Democratic Primary, in which Hillary Clinton defeated Obama by 41 to 32 percent, Byrd said, "Barack Obama is a noble-hearted patriot and humble Christian, and he has my full faith and support." When asked in October 2008 about the possibility that the issue of race would influence West Virginia voters, as Obama is an African-American, Byrd replied, "Those days are gone. Gone!"[49] Obama lost West Virginia (by 13 percent) but won the election.

I believe Byrd was sincere in his change of heart. He was progressive in other areas, and was very happy to vote for the ACA.

I don't know of any record of George Wallace joining the Klan, but he was a fierce racist and a Democrat. After his shooting, he worked with Shirley Chisholm on legislation to raise the minimum wage.
Unfortunately, he was also the Democrat who provided a basis for what became Nixon's southern strategy.

"In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" - George Wallace

"If he did not abandon his populist calls for helping the poor through education and health care, those calls became a distant second to his harping on the racial issue."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/sept98/wallace.htm

During Wallace's final term as governor (1983–1987) he made a record number of black appointments to state positions, including, for the first time, two black members in the same cabinet. This number has been equaled but never surpassed.

I don't think George Wallace ever gave any convincing renunciation of his racist ideology. And, even though he entertained the idea, I don't think he ever joined the republican party.

The guy I'm talking about has not renounced membership, continues to use the N word, and is clearly racist. Another major difference is that he never has or will run for office.

This is Missouri. I have heard racist comments come from legislators. There are some who have cosponsored republican inspired legislation to protect the confederate flag. Democrats here (politicians and ordinary people) do not have the same pressures as people who live in blue states or those who live in cities. There are a lot of red legislative districts where young Democratic Robert Byrd or George Wallace would have been welcome.

[McDiggy]

8. Wow.

I remember before the internet, being white was perfectly fine as long as you weren't a racist asshole. Now being white apparently has an instruction manual.

DU becomes more and more batshit crazy every day.

[LostInAnomie]

11. +1

[AverageJoe90]

16. One must wonder, indeed.

I do know that something's changed quite drastically since the last year, and it hasn't been for the good, I'm afraid. Because this isn't the DU I signed up for.....

[AverageJoe90]

9. Number 1 really fails, sad to say.

I can't honestly believe this needs to be said, but no, not all white people are racist.....I mean, really? If that were actually true, this society would be in far, far deeper shit than we already are.....and we're already in trouble as it is.

Look, I understand the person or people who wrote this was probably well-meaning. But, whether one will accept this or not, these kind of mistakes do a GREAT disservice to the anti-racist movement(including the fact that they've ended up giving ammo to white supremacists for their agitprop, including the Whitaker set and their Internet Inanity), of which I've been part of for several years.

Honestly, please, wake up. this kind of tomfoolery is doing us no favors, no matter the intention behind it.

[loyalsister]

12. anti-racist movement?

Where? Who is leading it?

[AverageJoe90]

14. You can't be fucking serious.....nt

[loyalsister]

18. Questioning and opposing isn't a movement

A movement involves real personal investment and action. There are some white people speaking out, but the crowd and actions don't begin to approach the numbers and commitment that make up a movement.

[LostInAnomie]

13. Wait a second.

Within the first sentence, this person makes a racially prejudiced statement about a whole group of people, and I'm supposed to give a shit about what they have to say about racism.

Nope.

[AverageJoe90]

15. And I can't blame you for feeling that way. nt

[cwydro]

17. Re #1 : My parents did not teach me to be racist.

Quite the contrary.

[unblock]

19. i think this is a great list and people should look past the word choice in the first sentence.

if anything, just take it as instructive as to just how easy it is to trip up in this area. it's a constant struggle to get it right, to clarify, to bend over backwards to not offend, to avoid misunderstandings before they happen, etc.

and, of course, to not let the inevitable bumps in the road completely derail any progress (not to mix metaphors...).

[Maedhros]

27. Yes - poor choice of words. I would probably substitute "prejudiced" for "racist."

But, you know how DUers love to ignore the substance of a post in favor of a semantic argument...

[mwrguy]

24. K&R

Good list.

[Nye Bevan]

25. OK, so all white people are racists.

So what's the point of "working to dismantle racism inside ourselves" if we are still going to be racist? Is it that it is possible to become a bit less racist, while still being a racist?

[AgingAmerican]

40. Ops such as these

...can be construed as 'race trolling'.

[d_r]

26. its all a matter of how you operationlize

the concept of "racism."

And how one does that is a reflection of their experience.

[loyalsister]

30. Exactly

I noted in a post above that it has become a stereotype and therefore somewhat stripped of meaning. Not the best words choice, and I think the responses here illustrate why.

[oberliner]

28. This group is completely insane

Have you read their statement of principles?

[Union Scribe]

33. There's a lot on there defending their "disagreement"

with transgender people. They sound like bigots

[AverageJoe90]

43. Yeah. BTW, speaking of prejudice, you should see Gradient Lair sometime.

Because boy, does she have a hate on for white feminists who disagree with her.....

Yes, I'll link to her site, btw. http://www.gradientlair.com/

[WCLinolVir]

29. Well this does not validate the work of many over generations to overcome racism in our society.

Nor does it talk about racism in communities of color, or cultural racism which exists in many cultures, regardless of color.
Many people who are white have worked very hard on these issues and to continually keep posting these race based Op's when changing the wording would constitute racism, is hypocrisy. Try preaching to the choir. This is not working. Funny how the OP starts with a message about a multitude of prejudices and just settles on an assumed blanket white racism, which smothers all of us. Try speaking to people, not talking down to them.

[loyalsister]

32. Does it invalidate it?

Does looking past the semantic quibble and avoiding a knee jerk response really disrespect the efforts white people have made?

[WCLinolVir]

38. This doesn't talk to people, it talks down to them. First it makes an assumption.

A pretty broad one. Any time you can just remove white people and replace it with African American people, Hispanic people, etc.., and it becomes offensive then you have a problem. I don't think it's a "semantic quibble" or a knee jerk response. And I do have a problem with the assumption that I have to take responsibility for what all the other white people have done or are doing. And I would not expect any other group to do so based on race. I don't like the race baiting repugs, tea baggers, etc.. I have spent my life protesting LE and policies that disenfranchise people.

[AverageJoe90]

44. "I have spent my life protesting LE and policies that disenfranchise people." Yes.

BTW, IMO, I think you deserve some kudos. To be truthful, you have made more of a positive tangible impact than many others on here, myself included. Because it takes real guts to make a stand in that way. And for such a long time as well.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

34. They need to provide the definition of racist and racism they are using. Otherwise, plenty of whites

are going to reject guideline #1.

[loyalsister]

35. I think that's a good point

At the same time, using it made me think hard about this incident I described above.

"I can remember a time when I had the urge to apologize for what white peers did. At the time, I felt good about myself and has a sense that I was a prime example of anti-racism.
But rethinking it, I think it was a racist impulse. I ultimately identified with white racists by thinking I could apologize for them. And, I now see that it would also have been a condescending and offensive way to absolve myself of the guilt of not directly confronting the perpetrators."

[Nye Bevan]

36. White people are going to reject a screed that starts with the premise that all whites are racists?

Why in the world would they do that?

[wildeyed]

37. This makes me extremely nervous.

It feels like I am being graded. And honestly, this is why more whites don't talk about race. Because we are afraid of doing it wrong, even when out hearts are in the right place. A 13-point checklist pretty much ensures that I will be doing it wrong. I have been trying to talk more about race because I DID read the black writers and mothers who said that whites need to speak out more. But it feels like a huge risk to me. And this list tells me that it is and maybe I should stop.

[cbayer]

42. I like Gene Robinson's much better

1. I am going to listen more, especially when it is hard to hear what is being said to me and my culture. It may not be my experience of living in America, but I can honor the truth in someone else’s experience, and increase the reality with which I understand my country and my privilege.

2. I am going to stop pretending that there is a level playing field among the races. I am going to advocate and work for programs of education, anti-poverty and economic equality that actually move us toward a more just society—less Horatio Alger and more of St. Paul’s “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave or free.” I am going to work to ensure that “liberty and justice for all” really means all, and not just those who look like me.

3. I am going to have more conversations about race. I live in a predominantly African-American neighborhood of Washington, DC, and every day I walk past a senior citizen subsidized housing facility which is filled with elderly African-Americans. I’m going to stop more and talk to them. And I’m going to talk with other white people about the racist society in which we live and from which we benefit—a conversation we generally shy away from and avoid at all costs.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/24/what-we-need-are-anti-racists.html

[loyalsister]

48. I like that, too

I think people don't understand that militant language and clear lines are efforts to make clear that there is no gray area when it comes to truly being an ally.
Thanks for posting!

[cbayer]

49. I think there is a place for militancy and it serves a purpose at

certain points and places in a movement.

But there is the risk of alienating allies when taken too far. As can be see by many of the responses in this thread, I am not at all convinced that this document will accomplishes what it intends to.

And there are grey areas when it comes to being an ally…. lots of them.

Gene Robinson's approach about being an anti-racist is much more approachable. In this sphere, I don't think there really is room for much grey.

[loyalsister]

55. Gray areas?

I think you're an ally or not.
You don't challenge the jokes under pressure from friends or relatives or you don't laugh and tell people why they're unacceptable.
You don't deny the numbers that reflect institutional discrimination or you acknowledge them. And point them out when others deny that racism is real.
When people say "slavery is over and "those people" still want to punish us" you mention institutional racism......

You try to begin to comprehend what parents need to tell their black children (especially boys) about interacting with law enforcement or you dismiss it as paranoia.

AND you understand the rage that inspires lists like the one mentioned or you criticize it as a bad political strategy.

[cbayer]

56. Yes, gray areas. I agree that you are an ally or you are not

when it comes to racism.

But when it come to specific issues or circumstances, there may be areas that your alliance is very, very strong and others where it is less so.

The problem with making it black or white (no pun intended) is that you may reject or castigate people who are on your side because they disagree with you on a certain point.

I do understand that it is rage that inspires lists like that. I have lived through many eras of rage in my lifetime. Sometimes rage is necessary and works, and sometimes it should be used to light the fire but one should also be alert that it does not burn down the house.

Sometimes it is bad political strategy, imo. These things are tricky. Shaming your allies is not always the best idea.

It's all about everyone trying to see it from the others perspective and that is a 100-way street.

[sibelian]

45. What UNBELIEVABLY racist JUNK.

I can barely believe I'm reading it.

Now we're just flat out, openly, and without the SLIGHTEST HINT of self-consciousness, TOLD what we think.

What the fuck is going on in the brains of these people?

[AgingAmerican]

52. It's called 'Race Trolling'

There is an epidemic of it here the last few months or so. Fortunately it is perpetuated by a very tiny minority here on DU. It is truly bizarre stuff.

[NaturalHigh]

46. Why would I possibly care what these people have to think...

when they are arbitrarily pre-judging me as a racist? They have some pretty racist presumptions themselves.

I have no interest in what people like these have to say.

[LeftyMom]

50. DGR is a transphobic group, I don't think they have much to say on being a good ally.

Just FYI, not a group that should be promoted on DU.

[Quackers]

54. +1

From their actions, I thought I was reading about a new hate group.

[Kurska]

53. "All white people are racist' is a racist statement n/t