What does it mean to be an ally and advocate? Why are Allyship and Advocacy important in building bridges and creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive spaces? On March 6th, 2020, Apple TV+ released a movie entitled; The Banker. This movie starred Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, and Nia Long. In this movie, we learn about two men named Joe Morris, played by Samuel L. Jackson, and Bernard S. Garrett Sr., who Anthony Mackie played. This movie tells how these men became two of the first African American bankers in the United States in the 1960s.
Moreover, it was towards the beginning of the film, when Bernard S Garrett was first getting into real estate, that a man named Patrik Barker, played by Colm Meaney, comes in. Barker provided a critical principle that would help him gain access to getting loan approvals by becoming both an ally and advocate for him. In the 1960s, banking laws were much different than today. It was nearly impossible for an African American to apply for a loan, let alone step into a bank if they were not a janitor. However, he became an ally by becoming his business partner, and he would become an advocate by using his status as a white male real estate agent, meeting with the bankers, and co-signing the leasing agreements. Although Morris and Garret were unfairly accused of suspicious loan approvals and being African American, they provided a blueprint for how we can overcome systemic racism by becoming an ally and advocates. By becoming an ally and advocates, we can create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive future for ourselves and generations.
What does it mean to be an Ally? In the book entitled Allies and Advocates: Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Culture, author Amber Cabral says that "Allyship is when someone with privilege and power seeks to learn about the experiences of a marginalized group of people, develops empathy for them, and identifies ways to extend their privilege to the marginalized group." When we think of Allyship, we may automatically think we are already allies. However, Allyship is hard work and is something we must be intentional about. Allyship is hard work because it causes us and others to be uncomfortable. Allyship causes us to be uncomfortable because it encourages us to learn new information and challenges the systemic way of thinking we were trained in. It challenges us to do more listening than speaking and enables us to seek to understand and appreciate each other's differences. Although Allyship is hard work, it is necessary because it is through creating allies that we can better understand each other and develop empathy, allowing us to share each other's pain or grief. Empathy allows us to make the bond that puts the two sides of the bridge together.
On the other hand, an advocate is someone who stands in the gap. Amber Cabral says, "Advocacy is the process where someone with privilege and power is willing to take steps to protect, publicly support, and dismantle systems against a marginalized group of people." It is through advocacy that we go a step beyond Allyship. If Allyship allows us to develop empathy and create a bond, advocacy challenges us to step up to take the necessary steps to establish a way forward. An ally is focused on the individual, while advocacy focuses on the systems.
Finally, what can we do to become an ally and advocates? Although becoming an advocate can seem like a daunting task, there are steps that we can take to become an advocate, which include stepping in the gap, speaking up, getting organized, and being the bridge.
1. Be willing to take the risk.
As mentioned before, allyships and advocacy are risky businesses. You will always have to endure resistance whenever you are an agent of change. Just because we desire to see change does not mean everyone in your school, company, or organization wants to see that change. Some people do not want to change because they do not know how such things as the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion may apply to them, or they have grown comfortable with the way things are, and the thought of change causes them to be uncomfortable. An advocate is willing to step into the gap and take the risk, to assure that other marginalized groups can receive fair treatment and the resources they deserve.
2. Speak up.
Not only must we step into the void, but also speak up. Simply put, we have a voice, and our voice matters. Therefore, when we recognize racial inequality in our schools, businesses, or society, we must say something about it. It is our speaking up that not only creates awareness it also causes us to convict wrong behavior.
3. Get organized.
In addition to stepping in the gap and speaking up, we must also get organized. Whether it is becoming a part of your student council, committee, or even partnering with community leaders, it is by getting organized that we can utilize our resources to make a significant change.
4. Be the bridge.
And finally, we must become the bridge. It is by becoming a bridge that allows us to cross over. By being a bridge, the next generation can cross over, and we can create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive future for ourselves and generations to come.
Finally, although being an ally and advocate is hard work, it is by becoming an ally and advocate that we can create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive future for not only ourselves but generations to come.
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