Black Lives Matter: How Can We Be Authentic Allies?
Your involvement, large or small, is a central component.
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
Many of Jodevi’s clients are in the advocacy and policy arena. They work hard every day to ensure that our laws and policies at the national, state, and local levels authentically embody and enforce our Constitution’s aspirational values. We know, however, that those values are indeed only aspirations unless they are implemented in the actions of our country’s people.
Words cannot express our outrage over the violence and hate directed to George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and so, so many others. Systemic and systematic racism continues to permeate our justice system and, sadly, our country. Here are some thoughts on what an ally can do in addition to protesting and attending rallies:
Look at the many resources on Black Lives Matter caard. It provides up to date petitions, places to donate, resources, and much more.
Get involved in local (city, county, and state) elections and appointments – especially those that shape the criminal justice system. Look at races for (and appointments when relevant) District Attorneys, Sheriffs, Judges, and even Medical Examiners/Coroners. THINK about who you are voting for --
a. What are the positions that they hold on issues of interest to you?
b. What is their history vis-à-vis racial complaints? Do they have complaints against them personally or professionally? If they are incumbents, how have they handled prior accusations of racial targeting/profiling and police brutality? How have the judges ruled on cases involving racial targeting/profiling and police brutality?
c. What are the organizations these candidates and elected officials are involved in? Look at their tweets and other social media. What do they talk about? Who are their friends - are they diverse? What kind of things do they tend to post about? Who do they support?
d. Attend events which they are attending or speaking and ask them about their positions and these issues specifically.Write letters to or call your policy-makers as well as your local District Attorney and Sheriff and let them know you will be watching to see how they handle police brutality and hate crimes cases.
If you have been the victim of police brutality or racial profiling or know someone who has, file a complaint. Prosecutors and defense attorneys often consider the number of complaints against a police officer in a case in which he/she/they testify. Always get a police officer’s badge number and/or name.
Consider the best police reform approaches and support the on-the-ground of work of nonprofits such as those listed by the Communities Transforming Policing Fund.
Know your rights, and some say obligation, to film the police.
Review the laws and policies of your jurisdiction and see what exists to prevent police brutality and racial profiling and to prosecute those in violations of those laws and policies. If they don’t exist, organize to get them passed.
Join local police oversight commissions.
Review resources that cover addressing police abuse at the local level, such as the ACLU’s Fighting Police Abuse: A Community Action Manual.
Send money to organizations that support the legal defense of protestors and know your own rights as protestors.
Think about being a “financial activist" for social justice.
Integrate authentic and meaningful change into your business. This means considering not only whom you hire, but how long they stay, why they leave, whom you buy from, whom you partner with, and what you do as a business to, as Darren Walker notes, “to sufficiently address this crisis that has been decades in the making.”
Support local businesses of color.
Know that equity can no longer be just about equal access. It must be about equal outcomes.
Volunteer your services to the organizations who are working locally for the change you want to see. This can be on a Board, financially, and also with in-kind support.
Mentor and empower young people who are many of the activists on the front lines of this fight.
Have hope.