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Beyond Ally: The Pursuit of Racial Justice
Doing antiracist work can be profoundly transformational for White people. Not only does it allow them to live their values of justice and equality, but it also helps develop skills like listening, sharing power, and working through conflict.Now more than ever, humanity must bridge the racial divides that exist within our society. Dr. Maysa Akbar, a race-based trauma expert, and originator of the Urban Trauma® framework, deftly delineates what the allyship process is for White people to align themselves with people of color through the lens of a person of color. Dr. Akbar illuminates the concept of White Privilege, the societal barrier which breeds and sustains racism, formulated by generations of oppression. She redefines previous frameworks of allyship, and through her new identity model of allyship, she constructs a much-needed pathway towards race-based rectification for White people.We are facing a global tipping point with regard to racism. To be successful, White people must provide support in the right way. This book not only educates on how we got here but also shows how we address it and fix it moving forward.
- GenresNonfictionSocial Justice
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2020
13 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 24, 2020
I just completed this book. This book is a must for all people interested in social justice who want to ally correctly. My story being black and adopted by a white family is featured in chapter 2. I really hope people take the time to see all of the heart and hard work that went into this book. A reason I think that this volume is above the rest in this genre is that it takes the reader through each stage and its not preachy its very encouraging and validating in the stage that you are currently in. I love this book, I was honored when Dr. Akbar asked me to be a part of this project and I hope that it moves you. I will share this...I was worried about what my family would think about what I shared, you will understand after you read my section. But I got this beautiful text from my white mother about how this opened her mind, she admitted mistakes and wants to go forward with this new knowledge. I cried when I read it. Being a part of this book and this project literally changed my life.
Kristine Brown, MSW
Kristine Brown, MSW
June 28, 2022
When power meets prejudice, the outcome is always oppression, the advancement of one group over another. (p. 50)
Reading Beyond Ally: The Pursuit of Racial Justice was often uncomfortable and frustrating. It was supposed to be. White readers should feel uncomfortable rather than avoid Maysa Akbar’s accusations and advice. She advises White readers to reflect on their current and past behaviors, including “accepting the sins of their White ancestors, dealing with the White guilt that follows, and leading the change within the White community in an effort to dismantle structural and institutionalized racism” (p. 30).
White guilt, shame, or tears are a derailer and distraction. Akbar encouraged White readers to remain humble, respectful, and eager to learn, without engaging in victimhood or behaving as a savior. Doing so requires us to remain honest, open, vulnerable, and yield control. She advised us to take feedback received, engage in conversations about racial issues, move past mistakes made, and learn to do better; in sum, “embrace being uncomfortable” (p. 152).
Being well-intended and supportive is not enough and does not make a White person an ally or allow them to claim allyship. One of the problems that Akbar identified is that Whites may “prioritize[e] the comfort of White audiences instead of having open dialogues about how racism shows up in the workplace” (p. 72). Guilty as charged. I tend to be conflict avoidant and want to make everyone happy – not as much as 35 years ago. This is a bad habit here.
And, our goal? From Akbar’s perspective, our goal is to become an equity broker.
A supporter engages, an ally pushes their own comfort level, an advocate challenges people around them, and an accomplice gives voice to the voiceless. You have the opportunity to be an equity broker. Will you take it? (p. 204)
Reading Beyond Ally: The Pursuit of Racial Justice was often uncomfortable and frustrating. It was supposed to be. White readers should feel uncomfortable rather than avoid Maysa Akbar’s accusations and advice. She advises White readers to reflect on their current and past behaviors, including “accepting the sins of their White ancestors, dealing with the White guilt that follows, and leading the change within the White community in an effort to dismantle structural and institutionalized racism” (p. 30).
White guilt, shame, or tears are a derailer and distraction. Akbar encouraged White readers to remain humble, respectful, and eager to learn, without engaging in victimhood or behaving as a savior. Doing so requires us to remain honest, open, vulnerable, and yield control. She advised us to take feedback received, engage in conversations about racial issues, move past mistakes made, and learn to do better; in sum, “embrace being uncomfortable” (p. 152).
Being well-intended and supportive is not enough and does not make a White person an ally or allow them to claim allyship. One of the problems that Akbar identified is that Whites may “prioritize[e] the comfort of White audiences instead of having open dialogues about how racism shows up in the workplace” (p. 72). Guilty as charged. I tend to be conflict avoidant and want to make everyone happy – not as much as 35 years ago. This is a bad habit here.
And, our goal? From Akbar’s perspective, our goal is to become an equity broker.
A supporter engages, an ally pushes their own comfort level, an advocate challenges people around them, and an accomplice gives voice to the voiceless. You have the opportunity to be an equity broker. Will you take it? (p. 204)
April 6, 2021
A book with a lot of clear directives and action items, which I think many white people are looking for when they do reading on these topics.
May 8, 2021
A must-read for white people who want to be better allies to members of underrepresented groups.
February 19, 2024
This is a must read for anyone interested in anti-racist practice. I wrote a brief essay in Chapter 2 on being Transracially adopted and how that has impacted my views on Allyship. Dr. Maysa Akbar is a brilliant and empathic person who seeks to leave the world better than she has found it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews