Weekly Newsletter, April 30, 2019
A C C O U N T A B L E A L L Y S H I P
Definition of the Week
A Call Out vs. A Call In
Part of our duty as allies is to allow ourselves to be called in when discussing race. We need to shift our perspective and be grateful when someone calls us deeper into this work, instead of believing they are trying to call us out.
It is not productive to get defensive or try to convince ourselves we weren't in the wrong. It is only productive to stop, listen, consider what we could learn from this interaction, how we can grow, and what we could do better in the future.
I loved this script example by Ally Henny of how to respond when someone calls you in. She posted:
"I’ve said it before, but let me say this again. Being told that you’ve said or done something racist is not an attack on your character. It is an invitation to do better. We need to normalize this.
Somebody: Hey, what you said was racist.
You: Oh crap. I’m sorry that I said something racist. I didn’t realize. I’m not even sure what part it was. Would it be too much trouble for you to give me a hint?
Somebody: Sure. You said [insert racist thing].
You: I’m so embarrassed. I’m sorry that I said that. I will work to make sure I don’t say that again. How can I make things better?
Somebody: I would appreciate if you didn’t say that to me ever again because it’s hurtful.
You: Sure thing. I will do my absolute best to rid such a hurtful idea/thing from my thinking and vocabulary. [feels embarrassed and awkward; wants to crawl in a hole and die; goes home and googles thing to learn why it shouldn’t be said or done; learns from mistake]
This scenario can play out 100 different ways. The key is to acknowledge, clarify (if needed and without demanding labor), apologize, make amends, pledge to do better (this isn’t always an out loud step), educate yourself, do better.
When someone extends the invitation to be a better person, you have to make the choice of whether to become a volcano of fragility or to accept that you’re not perfect and to take the opportunity to learn and grow."
In the example above Ally owns that yes, it will be uncomfortable, it will feel awkward, but it is an opportunity to grow. I want to emphasize once more what she said at the beginning, "Being told that you’ve said or done something racist is not an attack on your character. It is an invitation to do better. We need to normalize this."
To learn more about Ally's work follow her here.
Advocacy Excellence Highlight
Niki Franco is the Political Education Director for (F)EMPOWER MIA and civic engagement coordinator for POWER U CENTER FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. Through her work, she aims to dismantle racially oppressive systems, educate, and empower her fellow women of color.
I am fortunate to know Niki personally and although these are the objectives of her professional career, they are also the values she lives day in and day out. Conversations with Niki are constant opportunities to learn. Her mere presence is a beckon for you to do better, become a better version of yourself, and move intentionally toward a higher level of consciousness.
She is a mirror, forcing you to ask yourself questions like, how are you unknowingly harming (or not actively helping) other people/the environment/small businesses? And when you identify the ways you might be causing harm (or not actively helping) - what actions will you take to undo this harm?
When I asked Niki what drives her to continue this work even when it's exhausting, heartbreaking, and triggering as an Afro-Latina herself, she shared:
"My commitment never ceases or runs dry even against odds because my liberation and my people's liberation depends on it, and in Assata Shakur's words - it is our duty to fight for our freedom, we have nothing to lose but our chains."
Inspired by Niki's work at (F)empower, we will be joining one of their initiatives as part of this week's challenge. Keep up with Niki Franco and her advocacy efforts here and here.
Challenge of the Week
Honor Mother's Day: Participate in Black Mamas Day Bail Out
One of Niki's initiatives through (F)empower is spreading awareness about a national campaign by the National Bail Out collective. Black Mamas Day Bail Out is an effort to reunite mothers with their families.
As we talked about in one of the October newsletters, an enormous part of systemic racism is mass incarceration. Although blacks make up 13% of the population, they represent about 40% of the prison population. Because of the other systems in place discussed here, like income inequality, poverty has been criminalized. Below is a helpful graphic to explain one of the ways the criminal justice system separates families from even the slightest of legal infractions through setting bail.
Statistics show that black drivers are about 30% more likely than whites to be pulled over by the police. Additionally, when black people are convicted, they are about 20% more likely to be sentenced to jail time than white people who were convicted of similar crimes.
As (F)empower says, "We are working in coalition with nearly two dozen groups across the country to bail out Black mamas so they can spend Mother’s Day with their families, and supporting Black birth mothers, trans mothers, and other women who mother and are entangled in the criminal legal system and sitting in a cell because they are unable to afford bail. "
I challenge each of us to personally donate to Black Mamas Day Bail Out at any amount we can give. If each Accountable Allyship subscriber donates $5, we will have contributed $545 to this urgent and worthy effort. If we each donate $10, we will have impacted this effort by $1,090.
Many of us spend this much on coffee in one week. This week, we have the ability to redistribute this money in the name of reuniting mothers with their families for Mother's Day.
If you can't donate, please share the video below on a social media channel and encourage friends to donate or spread the word.
FAQ's and history about #FreeBlackMamas can be found here.
P.S. If you would like to highlight a leader of color who dedicates time toward racial justice efforts please do not hesitate to reach out to me with a short summary of the individual and what you think Accountable Allyship readers should know about their work.