“The time of the great racial awakening’ in the US is not over yet. Now, more than ever, people are trying to raise their voices against injustice, be better allies, and call out those who are not. But there is still so much to do.”

As people raise their voices against systemic racism, many have joined forces as allies. While the intentions might be good, I have noticed that many actions are either unhelpful or at worst harmful to the cause. Thus, I have compiled the list of some common don’ts you shouldn’t be engaged in if you wish to be a helpful ALLY.

Only Feeling Guilty Doesn’t Help The Cause – I am sure you might think you’re doing your best, but feeling guilty is not allyship. Many white people, when they are confronted with the harsh realities of racism and the injustices committed to black people and other people of color, they end up feeling overwhelmed because of the guilt of partaking in these actions. Use this feeling to initiate action and change instead of getting stuck in it.

If you remain focused on guilt, you will again be focused on yourself only. Now, more than ever, we need strong allies who are ready to share the burden of racism. and take time to acknowledge process the emotions that emerge but don’t get stuck in your feelings. Do remind yourself that now you know and are aware of everything, you can and will do better.

It Is Not Your Black Friend’s Job To Educate You – Another thing widely noticed is that white people who are close friends or colleagues with black people end up asking them for help. This is counterintuitive. It is not your black friend’s job to educate you on racism. They are already burdened or worse traumatized by the everyday racism they have to face. Do not add more to it.

Do not assume that Black people have answers to all your questions. They probably don’t because they are seeking explanations for the constant racial assaults & violence they receive from other white people and possibly you. There is enough information available to help you get started. You can read this guide to allyship or go through one of PositiveHire’s carefully curated resources to help you understand racism & what to do against it better.

Do Not Engage In Purposeless Debates – If you are trying to engage in discussions with people who have different views on racism from your own, it is good. But, if all that you do is getting engaged in the back-and-forth of debates with those who discredit racism (believe me, there are many such people), then you are wasting your time. When you become a strong ALLY, you will notice that there will be more people who aren’t ready to see the truth than those who are.

What you can do is try explaining your perspective cool-headedly to those who disagree. Engage with those who are open-minded and do want to understand otherwise, it is time for you to move on and do something better.

Do Not Shy Away From Using Your Privilege – This is that one time you shouldn’t think about using your privilege, position, and power. If you are a leader, a CEO, or someone who has a voice in any institution or organization, use it. This time, use it to make sure you offer support, encouragement, opportunities, and empathy to people of color.

Spend time researching how you can make your workplace more inclusive for people of color. Hire and retain diverse talent and give them equal chances and opportunities. Use your privilege to do the right thing.

Do Not Shame Other People – So many white allies end up shaming other white people who are not. You aren’t in a position to judge other people unless you have spent your life fighting racial justice and prejudice. Even then, shaming isn’t a solution to help people engage in the cause. Most of the time, people use shaming as a way to let go of the responsibility and the guilt they carry so the focus is on those who are doing nothing.

Allyship is all about what you do, not who you are. It is your commitment to fight for racial justice. Hence, you should call out people who spread unwarranted hatred against people of color but shaming them will take you nowhere. Instead, focus on how you can play your part to end racism for black people and other people of color.