how to be an ally
Ms. Barbara Beachler is an English teacher and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator at Stone Ridge. She earned a BA in African Languages and Literature with a Certificate in African Studies as well as an MA in African American Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has also done post-graduate studies at the Southern University at New Orleans in Education. Before working at Stone Ridge, she studied in various African countries, did Teach for America, and taught both in New Orleans and at Montgomery College. Along with her love for literature, Ms. Beachler enjoys hiking, camping, and kayaking.
“An ally is someone who makes a commitment to fight oppression and is willing to continue to do the work. But I also think that many people believe that that is the end of it. To call yourself an ally to me is insufficient. I have moved away from calling myself an ally and have moved towards calling myself an aspiring ally. I am not your ally until you call me that.” Ms. Beachler’s words could not ring more true. In response to heightened racial and political tensions and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, I have heard the word “ally” more than ever. Slowly but surely, the term has become misused because many of the people that label themselves as one do not actively act as one. Saying you are an ally is much easier than truly being one, so this post hopes to serve as a guide and a mode of accountability for all aspiring allies. In a podcast-like form (enjoy the sound of my brother vacuuming in the background for comedic relief during a section of it), we discuss what it means to be an ally today. I know not everyone is a fan of podcasts, so I have pulled out key points from the interview so that everyone can have tangible action items to use as they continue their journeys as allies, advocates, and changemakers of today. In section one of this post, I will unpacked key terms mentioned in the interview (*not all the definitions are my own*). In section two, I have written down educational resources Ms. Beachler suggested as important reads for one’s allyship journey. Lastly, I have extracted five key takeaways for us all to remember.
A Glimpse into the Interview:
Unpacking Key Terms:
“With allyship, it is important to remember that you don’t get a cookie at the end. You don’t get a label or a badge.”
Books/Educational Resources all White Allies (and teachers) Should Read:
Witnessing Whiteness by Shelly Tochluk
Let's Get Real: Exploring Race, Class, and Gender Identities in the Classroom by Martha Caldwell & Oman Frame
Everyday Anti-Racism: Getting Real About Race in School Mica Pollock ed.
White Privilege: Essential Readings on the Other Side of Racism by Paula Rothenberg
Everyday White People Confront Racial and Social Injustice: 15 Stories by Moore, Penick-Parks and Michael eds.
Can We Talk About Race? by Beverly Tatum
We Want To Do More Than Survive by Bettina Love
Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson
We Goin' Be Alright: Notes on Race and Resegregation by Jeff Chan
“White teachers, we need to look at our whiteness and we have to unpack and understand what that means. We need to think: What does it mean to be an ally in the classroom?”
Five Takeaways from the Interview:
“It has always been really important for me to do this work, even before 2020. It has been my life’s work, and it should be.”
“I am really excited to learn how to take allyship to new and different places as we continue to move along.”
So, today and everyday, be an active and aspiring ally. Even when it’s not a trend, even when you are not directly affected by injustice, and even when the work is hard: be an ally. Know that you will sometimes mess up, but take accountability for those mistakes and put in the work to do better. Be open to listening, learning, and growing. Do the necessary inner and outer work so that you walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Use your privilege and positionality to be the much-needed megaphone to amplify our voices. Being an ally is truly a title earned, so put in the work today.
