White Anti-Racist Allyship: What Is our Role in the Struggle?

From the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 to anti-Asian racism to the murder of Black people at the hands of police, over the past months we’ve once again seen the devastating impact of individual and systemic racism on the lives of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in the United States. Many White people who want to be supportive are wondering how they can best show up. This workshop focuses on the self-awareness, knowledge of historic and current racism, and skills necessary for White people to learn together. In this time, it is important we support and challenge one another, rather than burdening BIPOC with the expectation of educating us. Although this session will center on the role of White people in work for racial justice, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are welcome to attend and participate in the conversation.
Facilitator Ilsa Marie Govan has close to 20 years of experience leading White caucus spaces that are rooted in scholarship and accountable relationships with BIPOC. To find out more about this strategy, you can read her December 2019 article in Diversity Best Practices, “Five Ways an Anti-Racist White Caucus Supports Diversity and Inclusion.”