Everyday Feminism

9 Phrases Allies Can Say When Called Out Instead of Getting Defensive

CZ

There are many isms we are fighting on the way to equality for all people. Whether is be racism, sexism, ageism, heterosexism, ableism, classism, or any other system of oppression, if we are not from the marginalized group, we are not going to have all the answers or do everything right. As Unitarian Universalists we want to “answer the call of love” and help change the world, but sometimes we have to start with ourselves. This article by Sam Dylan Finch has better ways to deal with being called out by marginalized people, because being defensive does not get us anywhere. 

Namaste, 
Cricket 

Meditation on Ally

CZ

In November of 2013, Jamie Utt wrote an article for Everyday Feminism called “So You Call Yourself an Ally: 10 Things All ‘Allies’ Need to Know” as an affirmative response to Mia Mckenzie’s September 2013 article on BGD called “No More ‘Allies'”. Both articles are reviews of the word ally and what it means in out culture today.

Here is the definition according to dictionary.com:

verb (used with object), allied, allying.
1. to unite formally, as by treaty, league, marriage, or the like (usuallyfollowed by with or to):

2. to associate or connect by some mutual relationship, as resemblanceor friendship.
verb (used without object), allied, allying.
3. to enter into an alliance; join; unite.
noun, plural allies.
4. a person, group, or nation that is associated with another or others forsome common cause or purpose:
5. Biology. a plant, animal, or other organism bearing an evolutionaryrelationship to another, often as a member of the same family:

6. a person who associates or cooperates with another; supporter.
I hope that these will help us all work out what it means to be an ally.
Namaste,
Cricket
#UULent
PS: I really like this song by Rev. Meg Barnhouse and I think it speaks to this as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MM8yOS-btE

What does it mean to be an Ally?

CZ

Being an ally is more than being a friend. Being an ally means standing up. Being an ally means a lot of things to a lot of people.

In this article from the UUA, presenter Tim Wise talks about how to be an ally and the road map to racial equality.

This article from Everyday Feminism, Jamie Utt describes things that an ally can do along with the idea that being an ally isn’t a self-proclaimed identity.

#standingonthesideoflove #blacklivesmatter

~Namaste
Cricket