Greetings fellow white person! You received this link because the questions you were asking, or the conversation you struck up with your friend of color made them feel they had to educate you, hold space for you, or perform emotional labor for you regarding racism. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU’RE A BAD PERSON! We all fuck up.
What this does mean, is that if you want to be a better friend and ally to POC, then you need to do a bit of reading, examine your actions, and commit to doing better moving forward. Don’t fall into the trap of self-pity and despair. This may be very difficult feedback for you to hear, but your friend sent you this link because they care about you and want you to do better! We don’t give feedback and suggestions of improvement to people we don’t care about.
Maybe you were trying to comfort them, or hold space by asking how they were doing? Maybe you asked a question that made your friend feel triggered or re-traumatized? Or asked them to do labor for you by asking for resources that were available by googling? Maybe you were inadvertently perpetuating microaggressions against your friend? Whatever the reason, the compiled resources below should help!
Below are a few low commitment articles that may get you thinking about race, privilege, and how to be a better anti-racist ally.
Holy Shit, Being an Ally Isn’t About Me
Being a Good Ally is an Ongoing Process
Let’s Get Real About Why Women of Color Are So Tired
Confronting Racism is Not About the Needs and Feelings of White People
White People: I don’t Want You To Understand Me Better, I want You To Understand Yourselves
White People, Stop Asking Us To Educate You About Racism
I Was Complacent in My Whiteness, Until I Couldn't Breathe
White people: The World is Counting on Us to Do Better
If the above resources sparked something in you, and make you want to delve deeper into the process of unlearning white supremacy, and anti-racist allyship, then you may want to check into the more time committing resources below!
Take Action: A List of Ways You Can Stand With The Black Community
White Allyship 101: Resources to Get to Work
Back Lives Matter Resource Document - Fairly comprehensive resource with specific ally actions to be taken, as well a large source of materials for educating yourself.
Showing Up For Racial Justice - Get involved with your local community, as well as access to numerous resources on allyship.
Me And White Supremacy - This is a month long workbook that gives you writing prompts to examine your own relationship to privilege and white supremacy. This one is hard work! But, can truly lead to some real examination and change.
Books:
The New Jim Crow - Michelle Alexander
Remember This House - Khalil Gibran Muhammad
THE CONDEMNATION OF BLACKNESS: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America - Khalil Gibran Muhammad
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston
FATAL INVENTION: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First Century - Dorothy Roberts
The Hate you Give - Angie Thomas
If Beale Street Could Talk - James Baldwin
The Color of Law - Richard Rothstein
Documentaries:
13th - Available on Netflix