The Black & Brown Allyship We Need Today
Photo by Analise Benevides on Unsplash
During the past few months as we’ve watched scenes of the ongoing protests against police violence and systematic racism flash on our television and social media feeds, we’ve seen a spectrum of people in support among them were the faces of thousands of Latinos.
The posts declaring “Latinos for Black Lives” as well as “Brown Lives for BLM” on Instagram were endless.
It is no surprise that the Brown communities would be among the loudest supporters in the crowd and online – like the Black community, the issues of racism, police brutality, and inequality are concerns that have been at the forefront of activism within the Latino community for years.
As we observe Hispanic Heritage month, now is the ideal time to reflect on how we can continue to stand in solidarity with the Black community and continue to show support to one another to find solutions to issues that cross over into both of our communities.
Although Latinos and Black Americans do not share the same American history, they do share the desire for a more equitable society where their families can thrive and the color of their skin or country of origin is not used against them.
Latinos have had to confront a dysfunctional immigration system that has created countless debates and fight to preserve the rights of “dreamers” and essential workers while also dealing with issues of over-policing in their communities.
Even during the current coronavirus pandemic - Black and Latino communities have been affected at disproportionately higher rates than others, piling on yet another community dilemma to confront.
Now more than ever, Black and Brown communities need to stand together to fight against systemic inequalities and a lack of resources that threaten our future.
In this time of racial reckoning, there has been a lot of chatter about “allyship” and what that means. There have been countless book recommendations, ongoing conversations online, social media posts, but we all know the true allyship comes when we show up and speak up for one another and start to model what inclusivity really looks like in our daily lives.
The momentum that sparked the signs at the protests and online hashtags by various Latino groups must continue in our offices, at our family dinners, with our close friends, and in our daily interactions with one another.
Instagram posts are not enough.
Being aligned through similar causes requires a lifelong commitment that requires all of us to build relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people.
So, where to start? Here are some first steps.
Reflect on the issues at hand
Today is a time to reflect on the common issues we share, not the differences among us. By reflecting on our common causes will help us begin a dialogue. Think about what is happening in your community and what ways you can bridge the gap. Once we see how our issues intersect we can begin to come together.
Educate each other about our unique challenges
This is a time to educate one another about the history of oppression and how that has affected our communities in systematic ways. Not everyone can understand the effect of immigration policies in the Latino community unless we are open to sharing our personal stories with others. Be open to hearing the stories of those in the Black community and learning about their history. This is the first step in building confidence in the causes we both support and understanding the reasoning behind them.
Show up to support one another
When we make it a goal to show up and support one another that means showing up all of the time, not only in times of crisis. That means supporting one another’s small businesses, events, and causes. Are there ways you can show up for the Black community now? How can you show your allyship in the workplace? Will you stand up for equality when you are called to? Showing support is a mindset, not a trend. Maintain the call for equality as a priority in your workplace, life, and friendships. Let’s make it a goal to be a part of each other’s spaces: listen, support, self-reflect & bring about change together.
Share the resources
At Cubicles to Cocktails the goal is to share the resources among Black and Brown women. Creating hubs of resources with inclusivity in mind allows us to help one another. Knowing that we share similar goals and face similar struggles can help us share resources that can make a difference in each of our lives. How can you share resources at your disposal to help fellow Black women? Make a list and start today.
Sponsor, mentor, and hire each other
We’ve seen countless organizations and associations devoted to bringing together people of color. Have you joined? They are a great place to meet others that you can sponsor, mentor, and even refer to your company. Let’s start showing up for one another and extending opportunities to one another so we can see the diversity we are always calling for become a reality. We share similar struggles out in the world just as much as we do in our workplaces. Building a community can build camaraderie that can truly change the world. It starts with you.
This month. as Latinos, we have a call to action: the option of rejecting neutrality cannot exist, we must make it a lifelong commitment to fight for racial justice and against anti-Blackness as recognize they overlap our own causes. We must show up and recognize we share common struggles in order to build a new future together.
Because at the end of the day, we truly are stronger together.