Some thoughts on allyship when you’re not a PoC (please read the whole thread before you make an assumption about the point I’m making because this could otherwise read really badly):

I think lots of white lefties think just speaking up on issues of race makes them a good (1/5)

ally but being totally honest you probably sound really fucking annoying. Yeah sure you can tweet the right stuff about Islamophobia but it’s probably better to retweet a Muslim that’s saying what you would’ve said. Use your privilege and platform to give a platform to (2/5)

others. Speaking as a white person to your fellow white people about race isn’t good enough, force white people to listen to the voices of PoC and to give importance to those voices. Amplify us. You’re probably not making a unique point about race or racism that’s not been (3/5)

made by a PoC already so share their article or book or tweet and okay sure add your comment but make sure you’re CENTRING PoC - not yourself. Otherwise it just feels a bit white savioury and more like you’re saying the right things to give yourself a pat on the back. (4/5)

Whenever I see racism discourse on the timeline I see a whole lot of white people eager to give their take but even if you think you know everything, try more listening and less talking/tweeting. PoC should be most prominent in discussions of race. Don’t overpower us. (5/5)

(I am very much not saying stop speaking about race, just be conscious that you amplify BAME voices rather than overpowering them)

(I’ve used PoC and BAME interchangeably here but I fully recognise they aren’t the same thing and someone might identify as one and not the other as Henry here does) https://twitter.com/vortigan_/status/1252293405515952139?s=21