How much of a White ally are you?
I shouldn’t have to say this, but I will because I really don’t want to see any bullshit on my dash.
If racial justice and anti-racism are not things you give a shit about, do everyone a favor and ignore this. It’s not for you (just like I keep my queer, Black, Jewish ass away from Stormfront because an environment that is unapologetically racist, anti-semitic, and homophobic is not for me).
If social justice and anti-racism ARE your thing, do me a favor and don’t criticize me for not speaking for people who are not me or experiences that are not mine. You should know by now that it’s a really fucked up thing to say, especially if you are not a Black person and are saying this to a Black person. If you don’t understand why it’s a shitty thing to do, bother someone who is not me.
For Black folks who don’t experience this the way I do, what I say here about myself has nothing to do with what I think or believe about you. If your experience is different, I have neither the ability nor the desire to argue with that. But please have the courtesy to allow my experience to be what it is and not what you think it ought to be.
What follows is just a little tool to help current and potential White allies to get a better idea of how much I actually trust them and how much work they still have to do. Before somebody does something stupid and shows their ignorant ass, I should make one thing abundantly clear:
This is not a scientific study. This is a representation of my own personal barometer for how much I can trust individual White people when it comes to talking about or working around race. It is a highly condensed and simplified numerical representation of an internal dialogue I have with myself whenever I interact with White people.
And, as a further request, if this inspires you to do something similar for yourself, please don’t do the White thing by ripping off this idea without giving me credit. Instead, acknowledge where this comes from and the context in which it emerged by linking to this. You can also pay me.
From this point on, you have no excuse. So if you show your ass, you deserve what the fuck you get.
HOW RACIST ARE THE WHITE PEOPLE I COME INTO CONTACT WITH?
Every now and then, I’m asked (usually by someone White) if I think all White people are racist. The answer to that question is, “Yes, and … ” because, frankly, it’s a matter of degree. Oh, it’s not the degrees most White people would imagine for themselves, but it is a matter of degree. Each of those degrees tells me how much I can trust you.
For me, those degrees are:
- 0 - Non-human: assigns neither meaning nor value to usual markers of race; stare in wonderment
- 1 - John Brown: willing to take up arms against White people who attempt to harm a person of color; treat them as Black
- 2 - White Panthers: committing resources and support to people of color; reciprocate
- 3 - Jane Elliott: taking the fight against racism to White folks; support
- 4 - MC Search: can talk about race and racism without showing their ass; engage but challenge when necessary
- 5 - “Colorblind”: typical well-meaning White person; be friendly but don’t talk about race
- 6 - Archie Bunker: believes stereotypes but doesn’t hate us for them; be polite but keep my distance
- 7 - Rudyard Kipling: believes they are superior; avoid
- 8 - NYPD: would not think twice about harming a person of color; stay alert
- 9 - KKK: would go out of their way to harm a person of color; run away
- 10 - Southern slave owners: would inflict any and all manner of degradation and dehumanization upon a person of color; emigrate
That said, the last thing I need is for you to make this about you and your fee fees and be all, “OMG! I’m only a 4, but I want you can trust me more! How do I get down to at least a 3? How can I get you to see me as not like Those Other White People?” Don’t bother me with that shit. Whatever work this reveals you have to do, don’t burden people who haven’t asked for it. There are plenty of anti-racist resources online and in real life that are willing and able to help you. Nobody owes you personal instruction in Being A White Ally 101.
But it would be nice to get a “Thank you” every now and then for the stuff I do share.
I’m using this to gauge my own solidarity with Black people. I need to do better…
this list is adorable. i really want to memorize it.
I actually really agree with this list and it’s how I live my life. All white people I know have a number and an appropriate etiquette of engagement attached.
(via ethiopienne)
