3 Tips for White Aspiring Allies!

This one’s for my fellow white folks!

You may know that I facilitate workshops, groups and cohorts on cultivating more inclusive leadership, particularly for white folks, white women, and/or white aspiring allies. I love this work!

Last week I was working with a particular cohort of white emerging leaders in an organization and I shared a few key takeaways for white allies that I thought I’d share with you, too.

1️⃣ Allyship has consequences.

If you are someone who aspires to be an ally and you have never given up comfort, access, relationships, money, power, etc. to further equity, you may not actually be an ally. Real talk.

Allyship requires us to leverage our power + privilege to facilitate more equity, inclusion, and justice in spaces.

If you’re an aspiring (or active!) ally and change agent for liberation, it’s important to regularly take stock on what you’re willing to put on the line to be in line with those values. These are deeply personal decisions, because only you know what you can truly risk and when, but I encourage you to approach them with radical self honesty.

What are you willing to put on the line? Time? Money? Relationships? Your comfort? Work opportunities? 
 

Allyship has consequences.

Take some time to get honest with yourself about what risks you’re willing to take and do it!

2️⃣ Feedback From BIPOC
 

If you’re not regularly receiving feedback around harm that you’ve caused, ways that your whiteness is showing up, or how you can be a more effective ally and change agent from colleagues + friends of color, I invite you to consider whether you’re actually doing the work in community and/or whether you’re creating a safe space for folks to offer you feedback.

Feedback is essential to building our capacity as antiracist change agents.

How can you invite deeper relationships and more honest feedback?

3️⃣ You Don't Need an Invitation
 

You don’t need to wait for some formal invitation from BIPOC folks to engage other white folks in antiracism work.

The invitation is there, it’s been there, and it’s really clear.

The work depends on white folks engaging with other white folks, especially as disruptors and expanders.

Accept the invitation, love. ♥️

And if you’re a recovering nice white lady like I am (or you’d like to be in recovery!) I hope you’ll add your name to this email list just for you.

I’m working on several new projects and this is the place to receive updates and resources created specifically for you. We’re talking online courses, a group program, and free webinars + workshops designed for white folks doing the work. Get on the list, be in community. Because we can’t do this work alone. 💌

With love + solidarity, always,

Victoria 

PS - I also shared a similar video on Instagram, if you’re into this message. I’d love for you to like, comment & share to spread the word. One of the consequences of me speaking out about Palestine is that my posts are being limited and my reach online is dramatically reduced. Any support helps!

Catch the reel here!