(THREAD) The recent shenanigans on #astrotwitter where privileged ppl have dismissed the experiences of minorotized folks...

+ the heart-wrenching news of police murdering black ppl...

reminded me of a blog post I wrote as a fledgling astronomer (1/6)

http://ay16-mmctier.blogspot.com/2015/07/tips-for-wannabe-allies.html?m=1

The post describes a racially charged encounter I had with some friends and uses it as a lesson for wannabe allies

The tips are still valid

It seems like there are a lot of people right now who need to be taught — or reminded of — some tips for how to behave as an ally (2/6)

Remember that “ally” in this context is a verb, not a noun. You can’t just claim to be an ally. You have to constantly *ally* yourself with people who have less privilege.

Support them. Listen to them. Elevate their voices.

Here are Young Me’s tips for wannabe allies (3/6)

1. DON’T GET DEFENSIVE when someone calls you out on a problematic action

In most cases, they aren’t calling you a dyed-in-the-wool racist (or sexist, homophobe, etc.)

They aren’t besmirching your entire character, just correcting a hopefully raremistake (4/6)

2. When a less privileged person tells you about their actual experiences with racism (or other prejudice), DON’T TELL THEM THEY’RE WRONG

Listen and learn about perspectives other than your own (5/6)h

3. Never ever ever ever say that a POC, especially a black person, is being “reverse racist”

It will literally get you nowhere productive

Hopefully that helped and people can now stop being super racially insensitive or awkwardly clueless about what to do (6/6)

P.S. Additional allyship tip for an updated list:

4. Don’t get upset if a minoritized person doesn’t need your help. And don’t act upset *on their behalf* if they don’t find something offensive

That’s venturing dangerously into White Savior Complex territory