Becoming an Ally
If you’re reading this, you have already taken the first step to becoming an ally: recognizing that something is majorly wrong and working to educate yourself and ultimately create meaningful change.
Systemic racism has been woven into nearly every aspect of American life over hundreds of years of oppression and racist policies, meaning dismantling those systems will not happen overnight. Similarly, becoming an ally is not a one-step process; reading or watching the content in this article will not instantly turn you into an ally. It is a lifelong commitment to fighting for racial equity and equality. It is a continuous process of educating yourself and battling your own biases. But we need to start somewhere and we’re so happy CommonBondz can be a part of your journey to do so.
So, where do I start?
Let’s be honest…our American education system has largely failed to show us the true African American experience in our country. We need to start by listening, reading, and watching content that communicates this experience and provides a solid foundation from which to keep learning and growing.
First, let’s get a better understanding of what racism actually is. This article is a great place to start: Racism Defined.
Read This
Online Readings
The History of Racism in America by Meilan Solly
“Articles, videos, podcasts and websites from the Smithsonian chronicle the history of anti-black violence and inequality in the United States”
Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. outlines the ideology of nonviolent protest and its necessity in response to criticism of his efforts.
The 1619 Project from The New York Times
From its website: “The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.”
The System Was Never Broken (it was built this way) by Thamil Ananthavinayagan
Explains the connection between racism, policing, and capitalism.
The History that James Baldwin Wanted America to See by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.
From the article: “As both James Baldwin and Martin Luther King, Jr., insisted, America is an identity that white people will protect at any cost, and the country’s history—its founding documents, its national heroes—is the supporting argument that underpins that identity.”
The Costs of Code-Switching by Courtney L. McCluney, Kathrina Robotham, Serenity Lee, Richard Smith, & Myles Durkee
Dives into concept of “code-switching,” which the article explains “involves adjusting one’s style of speech, appearance, behavior, and expression in ways that will optimize the comfort of others in exchange for fair treatment, quality service, and employment opportunities.”
Privileged by Kyle Korver
NBA vet Kyle Korver explains his reckoning with his own privilege and his efforts to become an ally.
Watch This
In this short film, five young descendants of Frederick Douglass read and respond to excerpts of his famous speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" which asks all of us to consider America's long history of denying equal rights to Black Americans.
The subject of race can be very touchy. As finance executive Mellody Hobson says, it's a "conversational third rail." But, she says, that's exactly why we need to start talking about it. In this engaging, persuasive talk, Hobson makes the case that speaking openly about race — and particularly about diversity in hiring — makes for better businesses and a better society.
Listen to This
Historic debate between James Baldwin v. William F. Buckley Jr. at Cambridge University on the question: "Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro?"
An historian explains the history and significance of the holiday.
Combining archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars, director Ava DuVernay's examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country's history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America.
More Multimedia
A documentary by Tariq Nasheed “about the real and untold history of people of color around the globe. This film discusses some of the reasons the contributions of African and aboriginal people have been left out of the pages of history.” (Source)
10 Black History Documentaries from PBS
A list of PBS documentaries covering various aspects of African American history.
Time: The Kalief Browder Story
A documentary series about a 16 year-old student from the Bronx who spent three years on Rikers Island without ever being convicted of a crime.
Support Social Justice Organizations
There are many ways to create impactful change. One is to learn about and donate to different social justice organizations. Here are a few to check out:
Just the Start
CommonBondz is dedicated to sharing resources that help you understand specific forms of racism and how they materialize in American policy and culture.
Find more resources here.