We Connect People Who Want Racism to End
We build connections between and among people who are dedicated to the mission of ending racism.
Members of our online community, the Enter-Action Network, represent different races and ethnicities, different backgrounds and lifestyles, different socio-economic classes, different education levels, and even different stages of the journey of allyship. The network is not a homogenized group of people, but we do all have one very important thing in common: we are all determined, dedicated, and committed to ending systemic racism.
Our online platform is a sleek and state of the art system where our ally community can post to and activity feed, direct message each other, participate in topic-specific group discussions, and stay up-to-date with Black Vanguard Alliance news.
To be an ally to the Black community, you must seek to really know the Black community.
Deepening relationships, as well as forming new ones, with a diverse group of Black people, from various backgrounds and life experiences, is a critical step in being an ally of the Black community.
Without these points of connection with Black people, you will never fully be able to understand the innumerable sources and manifestations of racism that Black people experience, nor will you be able to understand the devastating effects it has.
As an ally, it is essential that you seek to diversify every form of relationship you have with others, from friendships to work associations.
To be a White ally, you must seek diverse spaces
It is not uncommon for most White people to exist in overwhelmingly White spaces wherever they go.
Even in the most benign of those spaces, White people are rarely challenged to confront their own biases, listen to the experiences of Black people, or support Black leadership.
Actively seeking to be in spaces that challenge you to confront racism is essential to being an ally.
Being in such spaces also gives you the opportunity to use the power of your privilege in solidarity to the Black community to demand an end to systemic racism.
To be an anti-racism ally, you must seek out others who are committed to ending racism.
Being an anti-racist can sometimes make you feel like an island. Not everyone around you will see things the way you do, and even if they do, they may not be as ready as you are to take action.
To have continued growth as an ally, you need the support of like-minded people. Having such a network allows you to meet and connect with others who understand the journey of allyship. More importantly, it provides a powerful tool to inspire others in your life, who are not yet doing the work of anti-racism, to come along on that journey.
When brought together, allies learn from one another and teach each other. They stretch themselves to be the change they wish to see. Together, allies push each other to take action, do more, and keep working until the job is done.
