How to become anti-racist and show active allyship

Anti-racism and allyship are a vital part of tackling racism and there are some practical steps everyone can take to support Black people and be actively anti-racist.

We recognise that not everyone uses the term allyship as there are issues around performative allyship; that is why we talk about becoming anti-racist and demonstrating active allyship. An anti-racist and active ally addresses and tackles racism in all its forms, whether overt, covert, structural or institutional.

Here are some ways you can practise meaningful allyship throughout Black History Month and beyond:

Dedicate time and energy 

Take time and responsibility to actively learn and educate others about Black identities and experiences – the onus should not be put on Black people to educate and share.

Listen and learn  

Listen to the voices and experiences of Black people. Keep up with and adapt to changing language, conversations and challenges.  However, you should not rely on your Black colleagues, coursemates or friends to educate you; you should dedicate time and energy to self-educating and unlearning problematic behaviours.

Engage with Black culture 

Engage with media such as films, books, podcasts and music from Black people. This not only broadens your perspective but also supports marginalised artists and creators.

Recognise and use your white privilege

If you are white, learn and educate others about white privilege and how this impacts how you move and exist in the world. Take the time to reflect on your experiences and how you benefit from a system that is systemically and structurally racist.

Reflecting on your own white privilege does not mean that you have not faced disadvantages in life, it recognises that you do not face the effects and barriers of racism. Recognising your own privilege and using your privilege to dismantle racist structures and systems is active anti-racism.

Be visible and speak up 

Speak out about racism and when you see injustice. Don't underestimate the power of your voice and support. Make it clear that microaggressions, overt and covert racism and stereotyping are unacceptable and harmful, and call people out if you see this. If you witness any racist behaviour or language at UAL, you can report it to the Tell Someone service.

De-centre yourself 

De-centre yourself - if you make a mistake or are corrected, don’t take it personally. Take the time to actively learn from these experiences.

It is important to act with the motivation of supporting and championing the voices of Black people, rather than being performative – performativity is allyship to increase social capital rather than because of one's genuine commitment and support.

Call it what it is: Anti-Blackness

It is important to understand that racism impacts people in different ways. Anti-Blackness is a specific kind of racial prejudice towards Black people. It is inherently rooted in colonialism, the legacy of slavery, and eugenics.

Racist attempts to 'rank' races in order of value or worthiness have consistently placed Black people at the bottom, leading to a normalisation of anti-Blackness across many cultures. While non-Black people of colour often experience racism, anti-Blackness can still be rampant in any communities that have a history of perceiving themselves as superior to Black people.

Be intersectional  

Intersectionality is a widely applied framework in studying and addressing issues of discrimination. It acknowledges that people can experience privilege and oppression simultaneously. The term was coined by Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw. Understand that our identities do not exist in isolation.

For example, read Stonewall’s guide: 10 ways to be an ally to Black LGBT people

Use inclusive language 

UAL is constantly looking at the language it uses. Using inclusive language helps everyone to be included and respected in our day-to-day conversations.

It is important that when we are referring to the experience of a specific group that we are using language that reflects this group and does not homogenise people and experiences.

Reflect on the recommendations UAL has adopted in line with the recommendations of a report by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity at Birmingham City University.

There are multiple charities and organisations you can support. To name just a few:

Stop Hate UK is a charity which provides independent support to those affected by hate crime and challenge all forms of discrimination. Set up in direct response to the murder of Stephen Lawrence, the charity also delivers and supports projects on areas including community cohesion, youth engagement, stop and search consultancy and scrutiny panels among others.

UK Black Pride is an organisation that advocates, fights for, supports and celebrates LGBTQ people of colour.

Black Minds Matter is an organisation that provides free mental health resources and therapy for the Black community.

The Exist Loudly Fund is an organisation set-up by youth worker and activist Tanya Compas to support Queer Black young people in London and across the country.

Show Racism The Red Card is an anti-racist educational charity providing workshops, training sessions, multimedia packages and a whole host of other resources to tackle racism throughout society.

Southall Black Sisters work to highlight and challenge all forms of gender-based violence against women, primarily working to support the needs of Black, Asian and African-Caribbean women experiencing violence, abuse and others forms of inequality.