How To Be An Ally To A Community Or Cause
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Politics and Activism

How To Be An Ally To A Community Or Cause

You have the power to support those you want to uplift.

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How To Be An Ally To A Community Or Cause
Pixabay

You're heterosexual, but you want to support the LGBTQIA+ community. You're white, but you support #BlackLivesMatter. You identify as a male, but you support women's rights. You're Christian, but you support the Muslim community. Sometimes, you ask yourself, "what is my place in all of this?"

There is a place for you, albeit a different one. You can love others' identities and your own simultaneously. How can you support a community or a cause from the outside? (No, staying silent is not the answer.) How do you really love both those who are like you and unlike you?

Listen, learn and understand.

The most important thing is to listen to people within that community. Learn their stories and ask questions about what you don't understand. Set aside your own misconceptions and be willing to hear what people have to say to you. Be compassionate and open-minded, and you will see different perspectives that you may not have even imagined before. Everyone has a different story to tell — you can and will learn something from each person. It is not their responsibility to educate you. It's yours, but if they are willing to share their voice, listen. Don't argue. Don't be offended if you have been wrong about something. Just listen.

Speak with them, not over them.

It is their voice that needs to be heard and their experiences that the world needs to hear about at this time. Instead of donning Muslim attire for a week or pretending to be homosexual in public to "see how it feels" then blogging about it, promote the stories told by people in the community instead. No one outside can understand, even if they "step into the other person's shoes," because, unlike those who face discrimination or oppression for innate traits, the former can always walk away. Share your thoughts and voice your support, but remember that it is not about you and that's okay. You do not need to be something else. Join the people who have been fighting against such widespread hate and anger for years. Join those who fight injustice because they’ve never had the option to choose otherwise.

Support and uplift them however, wherever, whenever you can.

When famous men speak out on women's issues, their words are often heard and praised more than when a woman states the same things. You can use your privilege to spread awareness of ongoing issues and ways to help. You can attend events and rallies, vote, write to your local representatives, and educate your friends and others around you. You can do so many things from your position.

Be there for them.

Revolutions and movements do not happen in a day. Change comes slowly, reluctantly, with lots of backlash, anger, confusion and controversy. The good fight gets tiring. It is often discouraging and disheartening. We know things may not even reach their goals within our lifetimes. Send support and comfort to the people you know who are in this. Let them know that, when needed, it is okay for them to take a break from protesting and facing constant negativity. After the Orlando shooting at Pulse, the LGBTQIA+ community was in shock, anger, sadness and fear. In times like those, reach out to someone you know who identifies as one of them even if they say nothing about it in public. You have the power to be a friend.

Leave your comfort zone.

Accept what you will lose from this. You will not be able to do this without making sacrifices, and that's okay. It is a sacrifice that many others are called on to make every day. It is one that you take to improve and change the world. You may lose friends. You will definitely have to be uncomfortable sometimes. Don’t be afraid to take direct action and know that what suits you may be different than what works best for someone else, and that’s okay. It’s okay to be scared, and it’s okay to question yourself. Do it anyway.

Love, love, love.

Always have love in your heart. This is not a battle against other people, but a battle against hate learned from society. Love the people who agree with you and the ones who don’t. Only by understanding them and loving them can you truly touch their core and teach them what you want them to know. If you are religious, pray for both sides — they both need it. You will never have too much love in you to go around. The world will always be in need of it.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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