3 Ways That White People Can Support the Movement to End Anti-Black Racism and Police Brutality
I have recently seen some articles floating around on social media sites describing things a white person can do to support the movement to end anti-Black racism and police violence against Black people. Though I agree with many points these articles have made, most of the points are about learning and self-awareness. We do need a major consciousness shift in this country and education is an important step in creating that. However, I want to offer some advice on other things we white people can do to take action. In the last several weeks, the movement has reached an incredible high and across the country people are joining in collective action to fight for the lives of black people and racial justice. You may feel disempowered, collapsed with rage and sadness, or confused about the contribution you can make. However, fellow white people, there is a space for you in this movement. Below are 3 ways to get involved. Remember, as white people joining a movement for Black Liberation, it is of the utmost importance that you respect, honor, and defer to the leadership of the Black people driving this movement. Join the movement, 3 easy steps for white people: 1. Protest/Demonstrate/Use Your Body If you have never been to a protest, don’t fret! It is a very simple activity. You can go for as long as you want to or as long as you feel safe (and I urge you to consider the difference between feeling uncomfortable and unsafe). It is as simple as going out to eat or going to a party. You just show up and participate in the group activity - usually walking/sitting/standing, holding signs, and chanting. How can you respect black leadership in a protest? Don’t take charge and direct the activities - chanting, walking, sitting, standing, etc. You are a support person to this movement, not the leader. If that confuses you at all, ask a fellow white person (who thinks a lot about race politics and you know has an advanced perspective on these things) to help you navigate your confusion. Most protests have support people such as medics and lawyers - you can ask the other protesters about how to find that kind of support in case you need it. Additionally - many people find that protesting actually brings them a sense of connection to community and a greater cause. White people are often afflicted by a sense of isolation - this is part of the deal of gaining access to white privilege (silencing your opinions against the status quo, repressing your anger at injustice, isolating yourself from people who are different than you, politely adhering to a dominant narrative that erases your true experience - yeah, it's depressing). That sense of apathy and isolation may leave you struggling to get out of the house and do something like this, but this kind of activity is a remedy to depression and isolation. This is the moment to get involved - you can make a difference! 2. Donate/Redistribute Wealth/Use Your Resources We cannot talk about any kind of systemic oppression without talking about class. Access to resources and money becomes more difficult for all people who are marginalized, and this is a very serious issue in the context of black racism in the US. The movement needs financial resources and you can make a donation that directly supports the movement in Ferguson right here. If you are a white person who doesn’t think twice about going out for drinks after work, going out for lunch, going shopping for new clothes, etc - then you have enough to make a donation. Even if you are only donating $20, that makes an impact - and I encourage you to make a donation that is a reflection of what you can actually afford. If you don’t think twice about buying plane tickets to a friend’s wedding or a vacation spot of your choice - consider a much larger contribution than $20. You can also tell your co-workers, family, and friends that you are donating and ask them to join you. 3. Do Not Call the Police/Use Your Head/Alter Your Actions There was a time in this country when white people thought slavery was a fine practice. Or maybe they didn’t think it was great, but they accepted it as a part of the status quo (again, part of gaining access to white privilege is accepting injustice). It is my hope that we can someday think about the police & the prison system in the US in the way that we think about slavery - seeing it for the racist and white supremacist atrocity that it is. When you call the police - you are calling on a system that allows the unjustified murdering of Black people. Learn about alternative responses to calling the police or using the court system to address conflict and harm. Talk about these alternatives with people in your community and your family. If you want to stop police brutality in your community one thing you can do is commit to never calling the police. However, you will want to be clear on a plan of action in an emergency. Often people call the police because they don’t want to talk to someone that is bothering them, like a neighbor or a person on your street. If your teenage neighbors have a party that is too loud, how will you deal with that? Calling the police may be a thought that comes to your mind. However, you don’t know who is at that party and there is a real possibility that if there are Black teens, their lives may be in danger. Have you ever heard about Transformative Justice? It is a methodology for dealing with harm and conflict without causing more harm. You can learn more about it here. Invite people to a gathering to talk frankly about what kinds of situations they are calling the police in. Do the police actually need to be called, or can you find an alternative? I am a white person. If you have feedback about this article, please send it to me. That is how I learn and grow. - Mae Winters
