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The Guide to Allyship

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The Guide to Allyship

An open source starter guide to help you become a more thoughtful and effective ally.

Guide to Allyship,

5 min read
4 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Be an ally - the right way!

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Eye Opening
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

People who don’t experience discrimination on a regular basis themselves can be clumsy or uneasy around marginalized or discriminated members of society. For fear of doing or saying anything wrong, they often opt to do nothing. Yet people who suffer under systemic oppression welcome the support, says African American designer and entrepreneur Amélie Lamont. In an open source guide, she lays out how to stand up for people who suffer from discrimination – and invites others to add their best practices as well. Her recommendations are clear, actionable and highly useful for anybody working in diverse workplaces and communities. 

Summary

Allies take on the cause of marginalized people even if they cannot fully understand their predicament. 

The term ally in a context of discrimination can be misleading: It can imply that people are joining a cause that doesn’t affect them directly. In fact, taking up the cause as your own is essential. Many people consider themselves allies to people who suffer from discrimination – but then hesitate to speak up when it matters. To be an ally means to be proactive. An ally commits to the cause of the oppressed and looks for ways to engage in the struggle for equality.

You don’t need to belong...

About the Author

Amélie Lamont is a Brooklyn-based digital designer and product strategist. 

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