As the country grapples with racism past and present (opens in new tab) and protests against racial violence (opens in new tab) continue, many whites are misinformed and make comments like "Racism is in the past/I am not racist," "Everyone is going through hard times now," even "My feelings matter and I have to share them now," and even comments such as, "All lives matter." While some of these comments may be well-meaning, many can be extremely harmful. Questions about systemic racism are neither bad nor prohibited, and honest, open-minded dialogue about the resulting movement is encouraged.

There are many resources available for allies (sometimes called co-conspirators or accomplices (open in new tab)) to educate themselves. It is also important to recognize that people of color suffer from prejudice and microaggressions (open in new tab) that whites do not face, and that recent events have spurred existing trauma and created new wounds.

As allies, we have a responsibility to be as informed and educated as possible. Before we act, we must first investigate. Before we ask questions about race, we must try to address the issue. And we must first make sure that the person we are asking has the mental and emotional bandwidth to discuss and share.

If you want to be a support and don't know how to go about it, this is a good place to start.

One way to begin this work is through Dr. Robin DiAngelo (opens in new tab), who has studied racial issues and engaged with whites about racism for decades, as in the video below:

Some of her most pertinent points: [11 12] this last point is worth cutting out: true allyship is not just about talk. It is about work. It is an active process. And that process belongs to everyone, whether they want to be involved or not.

Another important point: Di Angelo's teaching should not be the end, but the beginning of the anti-racist journey. Critics have rightly pointed out (opens in new tab) that looking for anti-racist solutions and joining activist efforts requires more hard work than watching videos and attending workshops. While this may be a way to understand the basics, there is much more work to be done.

So you understand the basics and want to learn more. The best way to learn from them is once you begin to immerse yourself in this content. For example, author, publicist, and sensitivity reader Mireille Harper has a handy primer on short- and long-term ways to become a better ally, including several anti-racism resources:

She includes important resources, including those she has contributed to continues to recommend (opens in new tab).

Anti-Racism Daily is another important resource that delves into various aspects of racism (past and present). It not only reports events as they happen, but also provides critical analysis to distinguish fact from fiction. Most importantly, it offers a way to take action after educating oneself:

For parents, The Conscious Kid is an excellent "resource" for "encouraging the development of healthy racial identity in youth" and amplifying organizations that "disrupt racism in young children." Resource. It introduces anti-racist and diverse books, encourages tough conversations at an early age, dispels disinformation and misinformation (opens in new tab), and offers an intersectional approach to tackling systemic racism. This constant reminder can keep us engaged in the difficult and necessary work without just going in and out of discussions about race (which is part of white privilege) and without stopping to center ourselves.

Anti-racism authors and resources abound, and the vast literature on the topic (open in new tab) spans centuries. Ibram X. Kendi (open in new tab), Michelle Alexander (open in new tab), Ta-Nehisi Coates (open in new tab), Jaswinder Bolina (open in new tab), Nicole Chung (open in new tab), Kathy Park Hong (open in new tab) contemporary writers such as Toni Morrison (open in new tab), Maya Angelou (open in new tab), Zora Neale Hurston (open in new tab), and James Baldwin (open in new tab), or iconic writers such as It can also be enlightening to learn about important but lesser-known figures in the struggle for racial equality, such as Marsha P. Johnson (open in new tab) and Bayard Rustin (open in new tab).

In particular, Kendi has partnered with The Boston Globe and Boston University to revive the anti-slavery newspaper The Emancipator, examining racism from a contemporary lens:

Director Eva DuVernay has produced a mini-series available on Netflix, When They See Us," and has addressed racial issues in her work. Her work inspired Agnes Gand, the subject of her recent documentary "Aggie" (open in new tab). Gand saw DuVernay's documentary "13 Days" and thought about the racial inequalities associated with incarceration and immediately launched the Art for Justice Fund (opens in new tab) to support prison reform and incarcerated artists.

DuVernay is now providing more resources to answer this same question of others in relation to her work.

Financial support is one way, and demonstrations are another, but you can also help by signing petitions, amplifying relevant causes, and educating yourself about the current political climate beyond the 2020 elections. Get involved with your own representatives who are listening, supporting, and making or advocating for change for individuals fighting systemic racism, like Stacey Abrams' (open in new tab) efforts to fight voter suppression by BIPOC.

It is also important to note that building an anti-racism network is not, nor should it be, exclusive to this moment. This thread highlights nonprofits that are doing particularly strong work:

Others include the American Civil Liberties Union (open in new tab), the NAACP's Legal Defense and Education Fund (open in new tab), Black Lives Matter (opens in new tab) are good groups to follow as they share a wealth of resources on their websites and social accounts that you can take advantage of daily. They also help provide context for current events and ways you can make a difference in your community.

The work doesn't end here. From here, find ways to get involved anywhere in your community, at work, and in your personal life. Avoid tokenistic participation (opens in new tab). Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (opens in new tab). Act as mentors and supporters. Understand and avoid cultural appropriation, including digital blackface (opens in new tab) and African-American standard English (opens in new tab) (AAVE). Explore the many ways in which we benefit from white privilege (opens new tab). Have tough conversations with relatives and friends. There are many more.

As many educators point out, we will make mistakes as we go along. But failure is the best teacher. We must be willing to fail, listen to honest and respectful feedback from those who know better, apologize without being defensive (or trying to "prove" we are good), and move forward with the lessons learned. I have done and continue to do this myself, confronting my own prejudices, upbringing, and white fragility.

Remember that being a strong ally is progress. It takes time and constant energy, and there is no set goal. Keep learning and growing: that is some of the most important work we can do.