Ally or Antiracist?
I asked my audience if they preferred the term Ally or Anti-racist...
When I began my graduate training and took my first multicultural course almost 19 years ago, Multicultural Competence was the term that was emphasized. Of course, the definition was taught as part of the course, I agreed with the components (Cultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills) and premise (an ongoing process, aspirational goal, and never fully completed). Since I was taught this from the start, this was what it meant to me and I was on board!
Then came the application...
Facilitating "cultural competency" trainings to various university departments at University of Oregon (during my internship) always led to pushback, and hence we'd have to begin by working through those different understandings and defining what we meant by the terms as well as what they meant to the participants who hadn't been "taught" the official academic definitions.
Now, I keep that in mind all the time...Academic definitions only go so far. What often matters is the meaning people experience with the terms - the effect, and not only the intention.
That's why the many thoughtful and insightful responses my audience sent last week about their preferences among terms (e.g. ally, anti-racist) were even more incredible and encouraging.
The preferences, the meanings, the considerations, and the variety were simply beautiful.
You might enjoy them just as much as I did, so rather than inundate you with intellectual, academic definitions and discussions, below are a few themes and excerpts (I did not credit specific comments only because I did not have specific permission, so I tried to summarize with only a few limited quotes of words and phrases) from the amazing responses sent.
General Themes:
Lots of people preferred each (and both) ally and anti-racist. Slightly more people who responded preferred ally.
Many people also commented that the two are not identical, and that both are valuable.
"More action-oriented" was a reason listed by multiple different people for each of the two words! Definitely shows how the same word can bring up different connotations for different people, and how different words can bring up the same connotations!
People from within the same group had different preferences. In other words, not all White people, Brown people, Black people, men, women, etc. preferred the same terms. Within-group diversity is still alive and well!
Preferences for Ally:
Positive connotation
Standing with the people who are in charge (e.g. the members of the marginalized group), supportive, "I'm with you."
Being called an ally by friends (from within the marginalized group)
Feeling more personal
Anti-racist felt more confrontational (and how that may limit and prevent the continuation of meaningful conversations toward change).
"Someone can be anti-something and not do anything about it"
Preferences for Anti-Racist:
Goes beyond status (e.g. ally)
Conveys an action of "correcting a wrong"
Exemplifies more specificity to the current movement for racial justice, narrower than ally
Specifies what to stand against or not do
Powerful and distinctive, conveys meaning without a formal definition
Ally is presumptuous unless earned/given by members of the marginalized group based on a person's demonstrated and earned actions.
It's the thoughtfulness and consideration showed in these responses, the genuine heart and motivation, and the engagement and effort that speaks volumes of the wonderful people and spirit represented in the group I’m lucky to be connected to.
A closing quote from one of the many thoughtful responses:
"I know we all realize we can get caught up in semantics. I try to remind myself it’s the spirit and intent, rather than a moment’s 'speak' or 'misspeak'."
What I love about this group is that everyone here has decided it is more important to be involved than to be comfortable, and that the risk of learning something different or new is less than the risk of staying still.
Let me know what these comments sparked for you. Any changes in preferences? Objections? Agreements? What might you do differently in conversations when you consider how these words might convey such different feelings and meanings to different people?
You matter. You can make a difference. I'm so thankful you're here!
