Allyship Just Isn’t Enough
Nov 2023
Lately, we’ve been thinking a lot about allyship. The good, the bad, and the performative.
If you made it to our online series Building a Better White Ally or joined us this summer for You Need More People, then you know we’ve explored this topic before. But we think it’s time to we reevaluate, revisit, and reimagine what allyship really means.
At a time when we are more polarized and divided than ever, is being an ally enough? What does being an ally look like in a world of racial equity backlash? And why do we have such complicated feelings about the term ally anyway?
Here’s the thing. We think allyship is important. But we don’t think you get to call yourself an ally. It’s not a self-proclaimed title, hashtag, or buzzword. You are an ally when someone recognizes you as one. With the notable exception of Little Richard correctly declaring himself the king of rock and roll, self-proclamation is rarely convincing or accurate.
Allyship is about what you do, not who you are. It’s showing up, listening more than talking, speaking out and disrupting racism, and putting your ego aside. It’s about doing the hard work of antiracism. And just like antiracism is an ongoing project, allyship is a process. It’s a practice. It’s something we keep trying and trying at, even when there are missteps and challenges.
We believe that we still need allies. But what we need more is solidarity.
For us, solidarity means working together toward a shared vision of equity for all. It means collective action, mutuality, and collaboration. It also means finding common ground and recognizing the intersections in our struggles.
We think allyship rooted in solidarity can take us a lot farther than just calling yourself an ally. It’s more than performative gestures or swooping in with quick fixes. Allyship rooted in solidarity is focused on making a material difference in the lives of people of color. It is concerned with impact over intention. It means being a co-conspirator and collaborator who is ready to put their privilege on the line.
Most of all, allyship rooted in solidarity means building relationships. Deep, sustained, and meaningful relationships. Allyship rooted in solidarity is about working together to shift power, uproot racism, and seed change. It’s about cultivating trust, care, and a commitment our shared liberation. And there’s nothing performative about that.
Ready to go beyond just being an ally? Check out our new Building Relationships for Racial Solidarity Workbook. We designed the workbook to offer some tips and tools for sparking community and connection. It includes ideas, exercises, discussion questions, antiracism resources, and even a playlist. Download your free copy and share with us how you’re building relationships and solidarity.