Franchesca Ramsey Shares "5 Tips for Being an Ally"

In the days since both non-indictment announcements regarding the police killings of Michael Brown in Ferguson and Eric Garner in New York, many folks from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lived experiences have expressed outrage and disappointment.

It seems as though more people (but not nearly enough) are waking up to the realities of institutional racism, systemic oppression, and police brutality that are still alive and well in America. As conversations and protests continue around the devaluation of black lives and black bodies, other dialogues have emerged as well.

One of the more prominent ones focuses on the place of white, privileged, and/or non-black people of color in organizing around these issues. While it's important that black people's lived experiences are centered during this time, it's important that we acknowledge that institutional racism isn't a "black problem." It's a problem that unfairly affects black people, but others play a part in allowing these systems of oppression to perpetuate.

Thus, we need more white, privileged, and/or non-black people of color to stand up and be true allies in the fight for racial justice. 

Franchesca Ramsey has done an incredible job of outlining what allies can do to be most effective and supportive. Watch and let us know what you think!