stardust-rain:

the reason why poc don’t trust white allies is because so many see poc’s humanity as conditional. not just in the sense of “racial activism is something white people can opt out of” but in that they literally think we don’t deserve a voice or an opinion if we don’t accommodate them or hold their hands. people’s perception of them being radical, anti-racist progressive is more important than allyship itself. 

allyship means being willing to unlearn conditioned responses and prejudices that you have been systematically brainwashed into thinking, not “I did the bare minimum to acknowledge you, now you must praise me for being progressive.” 

allyship is a constant process of unlearning, it is a constant process of self-examination. it’s being willing to listen and not deciding what is or is not oppressive – people who benefit from privilege are blind to injustices of the system. it’s about making an effort to challenge the system that you benefit from.

white people, if you need to make it comfortable for you, your allyship is already redundant.