We use social media to express ourselves in a myriad of ways, and that includes where we stand on social and racial justice issues, especially recently. After the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in May, social media was flooded with posts of solidarity, calls-to-action, and wake-up calls about the spectrum of injustices Black people face. Many white people and non-Black POC participated in showing support, which may have looked like progress.
But unless our posts are backed by consistent action, they amount to little more than what’s referred to as virtue signaling. Allyship is a lifelong journey; if we want to make a difference, we need to be mindful of the messages we’re sending in the virtual world. Here are some tips to navigating allyship online:
1. Know Your Place
When it comes to being part of the racial justice conversation online, highlight educators and people who have already been doing the work, and check any impulses to center yourself as a voice of the movement. Do your research to figure out who’s credible in the space. If you’re able, lend financial support to the BlPOC educators you’re learning from. Many of us are still in the listening and learning phase. You can’t teach a swim class after you’ve taken your first lesson, right?
2. Make It Personal
Reposting or sharing something without including any context, personal opinion, or call-to-action is virtue signaling at worst and lazy at best. If it resonates with you, let people know why. If you’re posting about a book on anti-racism, for example, share your ‘aha’ moments and your commitment to changing your behavior. Doing so will encourage others to be more intentional, and making your posts personal means they won’t just become noise.
3. Remember: It’s OK To Admit You’re Learning
Egos only get in the way of our anti-racism journeys. There’s a misconception that there’s such a thing as a perfect ally. There isn’t, but that shouldn’t prevent us from making our best effort. Allyship is a life-long journey, so it’s natural we’ll mess up along the way, even when we have the best intentions. Sharing your own journey of awakening gives others permission to know that it’s ok to learn, and shows that the process is the progress. It would look disingenuous to the BIPOC in your life if your recent posts of solidarity were the first they’d ever heard from you on the matter, so be honest about where you’re at.
4. Be Consistent
A ‘one-and-done’ approach is ineffective when it comes to allyship. It’s important that your social media activity is backed by action behind-the-scenes. Allyship isn’t supposed to feel heroic — it’s not about saving anyone. So much of it is an inside job of deconstructing our own internalized biases and racism, and having hard conversations with the people closest to us. Posting a black square on #blackouttuesday, for example, is useless if you haven’t been doing your own learning and unlearning offline.
5. Let People Know Where You Stand
Your followers and community—whether you’re a business, blog, or individual—should know where you stand when it comes to social and racial justice. Whether you “don’t want to get political,” you’re afraid of getting it wrong, or you feel it’s “off-brand,” silence is very obvious to any BIPOC in your life or online community, as human rights isn’t a political issue.
Have questions about being an ally? Ask in the comments!
Together, through their podcast, The Kinswomen, Yseult Polfliet and Hannah Pechter aim to bridge the gap between women of color and white women by having open, honest discussions about race, and offering guidance on how to be an ally.
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