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The alliance is growing. Not only here at Black Vanguard Alliance, but everywhere. White people are taking on the work of getting themselves educated about systemic racism and how to actively eliminate it. Individuals, as well as institutions of all types (corporate, academic, and governmental), are trying to figure out ways to address this call to action.  They are engaging in conversations and enacting new measures to make sure their organizations are equitable and safe for their Black colleagues.

This is a good thing. But many of them are making a huge mistake and are not even aware of it. They are failing to involve a LOT of Black voices in informing their actions and education.

Any given month, year, or decade a Black person (or two) is deemed an expert on the issues affecting the Black race.  This person is usually college educated, very articulate, and professionally accomplished. Often, he or she has just authored a book and is making the rounds of media outlets to promote it.  He or she can be found being interviewed on any given television network, and so he or she has a great deal of visibility and name recognition. This person’s book is, without question, an invaluable resource on the subject matter. For that reason, this person’s book becomes the go-to doctrine for those seeking a much-needed education on race and Black issues. And therein lies the problem.

Without a doubt, this person's perspective should be validated, but it should not be the only perspective being validated.  Allies need to inform and educate themselves and their ranks much more broadly than with just one expert. No one author, speaker, or trainer can fully represent the entire Black experience. Society has failed at ending systemic racism because the dominant culture has failed to embrace the diversity of Blackness.

White America tends to anoint one or two, maybe even three or four, "chosen experts" at a time from the Black