Beyond the Breath: The Imperative of Authentic Allyship

Allyship represents a vital and active commitment to justice, equity, compassion, and love, which we explore in depth throughout this discourse. I have reflected extensively on the multifaceted nature of allyship, recognizing that it transcends mere passive support and demands genuine action. We examine the imperative for individuals to embrace their roles as allies across diverse communities, particularly during these tumultuous times when marginalized voices are in dire need of amplification and support. It is crucial to understand that authentic allyship requires not only listening and learning but also engaging in uncomfortable conversations and actions that challenge existing power dynamics. By acknowledging the various communities that require our advocacy and taking tangible steps to support them, we can foster a more equitable society and truly embody the essence of what it means to be an ally.

A profound exploration of the concept of allyship is presented, delving into its multifaceted nature and the imperative for individuals to engage actively rather than passively in the pursuit of social justice. I reflect upon my personal journey as an ally, emphasizing that true allyship demands a commitment to understanding, advocating, and making sacrifices for marginalized communities. In this discourse, I dissect the stark contrast between performative allyship and authentic engagement, illustrating with tangible examples how the former often manifests as superficial gestures devoid of genuine impact. I implore listeners to ponder their own experiences of standing up for others, particularly in moments of discomfort, as these instances often define the essence of true allyship.

The episode further delineates various communities requiring allyship, including the LGBTQ community, racial minorities, individuals with disabilities, and women. Each segment elucidates the specific challenges these groups face and articulates the roles allies can play in dismantling systemic barriers. For instance, I emphasize the importance of inclusive language and the necessity of advocating for equal rights within the LGBTQ community. In discussing racial equity, I highlight the critical role of white allies in amplifying voices of color and participating meaningfully in movements such as Black Lives Matter. Through these discussions, I aim to foster a deeper understanding of the responsibilities and actions that constitute effective allyship.

Concluding the episode, I offer actionable steps for listeners to embody allyship in their daily lives. I stress the necessity of continuous education, the importance of challenging biases, and the imperative to support systemic change. By advocating for legislative reforms and prioritizing the needs of marginalized communities, we can collectively forge a more equitable society. I encourage listeners to reflect on their capacity to be allies and to share their stories of authentic allyship, thus inspiring others to engage in this vital work. The essence of this episode is a clarion call for all individuals to commit to being active participants in the pursuit of justice, equity, and compassion, even in the face of discomfort.

Takeaways:

• Allyship is an active and ongoing commitment to justice, equity, compassion, and love.
• Authentic allyship requires continuous learning, unlearning, and taking action even when it is uncomfortable.
• To be effective allies, we must listen to and elevate the voices of marginalized communities.
• Challenging our own biases is essential in the pursuit of genuine allyship and social equity.
• Supporting legislation and policies that promote equity is vital for true allyship.
• Performative allyship is inadequate; we must engage in meaningful actions rather than superficial displays.

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Episode Transcript

(01:41):
Hey everyone, and welcome backto beyond the Breath.
I'm Heather Hester and todaywe're going to talk about the many
ways allyship can show up inyour life.
Before we get started though,I want to apologize for posting this
episode two days late this week.
We were traveling for baseballfor my youngest, which was so much

(02:03):
fun for all of us.
However, also answered thequestion will I have time to create
and record a podcast while onthis type of trip?
And I found out the answer isa resounding no.
So lesson learned for the future.
Anyway, I have been thinking alot about the word ally and the action

(02:26):
of being an ally.
Especially as I have beenthinking the last few months about
how I can better serve andinform and reach you.
I've given a great deal ofthought to the ways I've been an
ally myself and the waysothers have been allies to me, and

(02:49):
also the ways allyship can bea piece of the solution or a solution.
Allyship is more than passive support.
It's an active, ongoingcommitment to justice, equity, compassion,
and love.

(03:10):
So the question is, how can webe better allies to different communities,
all different communities?
So let's define what it meansto be an ally first, because I think
that gets a little confusingor confused sometimes.
Allyship is not a label, it'san action.

(03:32):
It's about what you do, notjust what you say.
Being an ally means listening,learning and taking action.
Even when it's uncomfortable.
Especially when it's uncomfortable.
Can you think of a time whenyou've done that?
A time when your heart wasbeating out of your chest and you

(03:55):
knew you needed and wanted touse your voice to take a stand?
Maybe it just burst out of youas a passionate monologue or a string
of compassion filled words.
Or maybe you were able to takea deep breath and calmly stand up

(04:16):
while meanwhile sweating fromevery pore of your body.
However it has shown up.
Now think about who it was foryour LGBTQ child, Your sister, A
friend who is a race cultureor religion different than you.

(04:39):
A colleague whose physical ormental ability is different than
yours.
Now think about what happenedor why it occurred to you to stand
up or to be an ally.
Last week's podcast guestCelia Daniel made a powerful request
on the pod.

(05:02):
She said this is a time likeno other for allies to come forward
to stand up, that those we areallies for are exhausted and scared
and need our support andvoices like never before.
We need to knock off theperformative allyship, which is essentially

(05:25):
the act of appearing to bedevoted to a cause without taking
any real actions to support it.
So some of the examples ofthis might be social media activism,
posting with hashtags orcommenting on accounts when a topic
is hot but dropping it afterthe news has cooled.

(05:50):
Another example might beorganizing charity drives or voluntourism
trips as a superficial displayof support without really addressing
the root causes.
And another is companiesreleasing statements or selling products

(06:15):
to appear socially responsiblewhile continuing to exploit marginalized
communities for profit or usethose profits against the very communities
they claim to support.
Authentic allyship is alifelong journey of learning and
unlearning, of acknowledging,owning, shifting and growing, and

(06:41):
of using our voices, takingaction when it is hard and scary,
and doing that over and overand over again.
So next I think we need toreally think about who needs allies
and understanding a few of thedifferent communities that need allies

(07:05):
now.
Especially now more than ever.
Of course, I'm always going tostart with the LGBTQ community.
Allyship means advocating forequal rights, standing up against
discrimination, usinginclusive language, and normalizing

(07:27):
conversations about identityand orientation.
One of a million ways to showour support within this community
is by respecting pronouns andeducating others on their importance.
For example, an employerimplementing inclusive policies such

(07:48):
as ensuring health benefitsfor same sex partners can foster
a more welcoming workplace.
The next community orcommunities are racial and ethnic
minorities.
Being an ally here meansacknowledging systemic racism.

(08:09):
It means amplifying voices ofpeople of color and supporting policies
that promote racial equity.
A powerful example is whenwhite allies participate in protests
such as the Black Lives Matterprotests, not by leading the conversation

(08:31):
but by using their privilege,our privilege, my privilege to amplify
black voices and to advocatefor police reform.
The next community that reallyneeds allies and allyship are people
with disabilities.

(08:51):
Advocacy includes pushing foraccessibility, recognizing ableism,
and using appropriate languagethat respects people with disabilities.
A great example of allyship isbusinesses ensuring their websites
are screen reader friendly andtheir physical spaces include ramps,

(09:13):
elevators, and accessible restrooms.
The next community is womenand gender equality.
Being an ally here involveschallenging sexism, advocating for
equal pay, and supportingpolicies that promote gender equality.

(09:33):
A strong example here are maleallies in the workplace, actively
ensuring women have equalspeaking time in meetings and calling
out instances of mansplainingor gender bias.
Another community thatespecially right now, needs allies

(09:55):
are immigrant and refugee communities.
Fighting xenophobia meansstanding against anti immigrant rhetoric,
supporting humane immigrationpolicies and helping organizations
that provide legal aid.
A notable example is communitygroups that organize the Know youw
Rights workshops forundocumented individuals, ensuring

(10:20):
they have the informationneeded to protect themselves and
Another way that we can showup as allies are around mental health
awareness.
Destigmatizing mental healthmeans normalizing conversations about
therapy, supporting mentalhealth days, advocating for better

(10:40):
policies.
A real life example ofallyship is when a workplace adopts
mental health friendlypolicies such as providing access
to counseling services andencouraging flexible schedules for
employees dealing with anxietyor depression.
So what are a few simple waysthat we can show up and act and be

(11:05):
better allies?
Well, first of all, we need tolisten and we need to learn.
Educate yourself by listeningto people from marginalized communities
rather than expecting them toeducate you.
This is so huge.
This can include readingbooks, attending talks and following

(11:27):
activists on social media.
For example, reading cast byIsabel Wilkerson to understand systemic
racism can be an eye opening step.
The second way is to use yourprivilege for good.
Speak up when you witnessdiscrimination, but also make space

(11:51):
for others to speak.
One great example here is whena male colleague ensures a female
coworker's idea isacknowledged in a meeting rather
than being dismissed orcredited to a man.
The third way is to amplify voices.

(12:14):
Share work stories andplatforms of marginalized voices
without speaking over them.
A concrete example is sharingand citing work from indigenous activists
when discussing land rightsissues instead of summarizing it
in your own words.

(12:35):
Another way is to challengeyour own biases, acknowledge your
internal biases and work tounlearn them.
Remember, we all have thesethis is not a finger pointing exercise
or a statement of judgment.
Acknowledge that they're there.

(12:56):
One example of doing this isrecognizing how media stereotypes
shape perceptions and making aconscious effort to consume diverse
narratives such as watchingfilms by black, LGBTQ and disabled.
Filmmakers show up consistently.

(13:19):
Go far beyond hashtags and onetime activism.
Support communities throughactions like voting, donating and
advocating.
Using your voice, forinstance, instead of only posting
about LGBTQ rights duringPride Month, consistently supporting

(13:43):
LGBTQ organizations year roundis a meaningful way to show allyship.
Be open to criticism.
If someone from a marginalizedcommunity corrects you, take it as
a learning opportunity ratherthan a personal attack.
A good example is someonebeing corrected for using outdated

(14:05):
terminology and respondingwith gratitude rather than defensiveness.
And finally, supportlegislation and policy changes.
This is a huge one right nowthat we all can be involved in.

(14:25):
Advocate for systemic change,not just individual acts of kindness.
This could mean pushing forpolicies like paid parental leave,
police reform or stronger antidiscrimination laws.
A key example is allieslobbying for the Equal Rights Amendment

(14:46):
or writing to theirrepresentatives about disability
rights legislation.
So what does true allyshiplook like out in the world speaking
up, extending opportunitiesand challenging the status quo.
Even when it's uncomfortable.
Even when, like Ruth BaderGinsburg said, your voice shakes

(15:10):
and sweat is running down your back.
Even when you don't have aperfectly curated statement ready.
Maybe especially then, humansconnect with other humans when they
are messy and vulnerable and real.
If we wait until the timing orthe words are perfect, we'll be waiting

(15:31):
for far, far too long.
My challenge to you today isto share a story of authentic allyship
that you have witnessed orbeen a part of.
This small action can be thespark of encouragement that another
person needs.
You can take it one stepfurther and make it a goal to act

(15:54):
as an ally for someone this week.
Remember, those who have beencaught in the crosshairs or outright
targeted are exhausted.
It is time for us to step upand speak out.
If you need some additionalinspiration or resources, check out

(16:15):
the resource page of mywebsite for books, podcasts, documentaries
and organizations to support.
And if this episode spoke toyou, please share it.
Someone in your life probablyneeds this message just as much as
you do.
Thank you for being here, forshowing up and for caring.

(16:37):
Until next time, take care ofyourself and take care of each other.