Observation: Over this past week like Sara mention our social justice class talked about the idea of being an ally. We discussed how it is important for people who are wanting to be change agents to help other populations and members of the target group recognize that they are not allies until the target group acknowledges and wants them to be helping.
As I think on the subject and wonder how groups are able to gain economic and social justice that they did not have before I realize how important it is for them to have allies. People look at groups whether they are racial/ethnic, gender, age, or class and see these groups having their own problems because of unique characteristics that only apply to them. However when someone "different" from the group stands up for the group, people take a double-take on the issue. I'm not saying its required that groups need allies in order to see their desired changes happen, but it helps promote positive changes tremendously when you have an ally that would not typically fit into your group.
Example of these could be-- The veteran that stood up for Muslims (What would you do video in a comment of my blog on Muslim discrimination) , Macklemore in his song "Same Love", Jewish volunteers in the Civil Rights Movements some of who were arrested with other African Americans.
Progress I believe definitely is spurred when an ally is present in the fight. I think its a beautiful thing to witness--to see people from different perspectives and worldviews empathize with others and attempt to learn and understand the struggles that those people are having. Becoming an ally though is sensitive and that soon to be ally needs to be welcomed into that group as an ally. Too often we see people trying to become allies only to make themselves look like a savior or make those people they are trying to help more oppressed.
A question to think about it is:
Can we be allies with other groups without creating a coalition or does becoming an ally automatically mean you are forming a coalition?
As I think on the subject and wonder how groups are able to gain economic and social justice that they did not have before I realize how important it is for them to have allies. People look at groups whether they are racial/ethnic, gender, age, or class and see these groups having their own problems because of unique characteristics that only apply to them. However when someone "different" from the group stands up for the group, people take a double-take on the issue. I'm not saying its required that groups need allies in order to see their desired changes happen, but it helps promote positive changes tremendously when you have an ally that would not typically fit into your group.
Example of these could be-- The veteran that stood up for Muslims (What would you do video in a comment of my blog on Muslim discrimination) , Macklemore in his song "Same Love", Jewish volunteers in the Civil Rights Movements some of who were arrested with other African Americans.
Progress I believe definitely is spurred when an ally is present in the fight. I think its a beautiful thing to witness--to see people from different perspectives and worldviews empathize with others and attempt to learn and understand the struggles that those people are having. Becoming an ally though is sensitive and that soon to be ally needs to be welcomed into that group as an ally. Too often we see people trying to become allies only to make themselves look like a savior or make those people they are trying to help more oppressed.
A question to think about it is:
Can we be allies with other groups without creating a coalition or does becoming an ally automatically mean you are forming a coalition?
