accountable allyship

“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” - Audre Lorde

accountable: this accountability newsletter will meet you where you are. You can be an individual who has consciously been working toward understanding white privilege and the impact of systemic racism for years or you can be a beginner who is just starting out in your awareness of white supremacy culture. This initiative aims to deepen your understanding of your own white privilege, hold yourself and your white peers accountable, and move toward becoming a truly effective ally.

allyship: unending work by an individual who recognizes that though they do not belong to a marginalized group, responsibility can be taken and actions can be effective from their place of privilege. An ally does not believe themselves to be the solution or the savior - instead they believe it is time to rise up and add their voice alongside those who have been fighting for justice, equality, and the right to not only survive, but thrive in modern society.

FAQ

Why the topic of race?

For the past seven years I have worked in various non-profits with missions supporting those who have been impacted by sexual assault and domestic abuse and members of the LGBTQ+ community. I see white people rallying around these topics, but lacking the ability to comfortably talk about race. Racism is not an issue confined to Black people or people of color, it is a societal issue that we as white people actively take part in and benefit from. We have to take responsibility for a system we continue to perpetuate with our silence and complacency.

Why would I listen to a white woman talk about race?

It is not the job of Black people or people of color to teach white people about the pervasive systemic racism in our society. My intended audience is the white community because I am part of it. I want to help white people internalize the urgency of this work and take action to dismantle the white supremacy culture that perpetuates systemic racism.

What is the aim of this initiative?

It is a space for white people to further their education about systemic racism. The goal is to learn, engage, disrupt, and challenge racial inequity in the United States.

Don’t you think a little newsletter trivializes the experiences of Black people and People of Color?

The topic of race is not a theory or a history lesson. It is a present day experience of human lives that have been (and continue to be) systematically oppressed. Nothing could do this topic justice. But we have to begin, and we have to start somewhere.

What will I learn?

Each month you will receive a newsletter with definitions, stories, links to resources created by Black people, indigenous peoples and people of color, as well as lessons on how to interrupt microaggressions, how to acknowledge your own privilege so you can move beyond it, and how to challenge beliefs ingrained in society. It will be a compilation of mixed media, thoughtful questions, and straightforward lessons to further your understanding of systemic racism.

Who should subscribe?

Everyone is welcome. The intended audience is white individuals who would like to work toward being truly effective allies. That said anyone who is curious about how white people are approaching and talking to each other about this work please feel free to subscribe as an observer.