3 research-backed ways to portray yourself as an ally for people of color

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To achieve diversity, we must be willing to do things differently. Systems in place for centuries have disproportionately disadvantaged people of color compared to whites. These systems contain biases, often so common that we do not question the non-inclusive norms and assumptions these systems create.

Because of the red lines that maintain segregation to the ripple effects of property taxes funding education, outcomes for people of color in the housing, education, and health care systems are even today disparate . These lead to perpetual inequity that often manifests itself in more nuanced assumptions. For example, it could show up in day-to-day interactions, questioning someone's qualifications based on their skin color or calling someone "diversity recruited" because they're not white. p>

Nearly three years after the tumultuous rise of racial justice in 2020, people of color are understandably tired of having the same conversation with white people about these systemic issues. Worse still, performative acts of alliance such as showing up to a Black Lives Matter protest without doing any extra work, quoting a well-known person from a leader of color without context, or celebrating black history in February and the forgetting the rest of the year tends to be more harmful than helpful.

To try to be better allies for people of color, white people need to disrupt the status quo. It could go against the systems that benefit them as white people. Examples of this could include advocating for reparations that could increase your own taxes, choosing to live in a diverse neighborhood even if education is not as well funded as in neighboring white communities, or advocating for people of color for causes that people like you could directly benefit from.

This may seem tricky as a "want to be" ally. Centuries of inequality will not be resolved overnight. If racial equality were easy, it would already be done. As things stand, white people have retreated from the conversation about racism when issues affecting people of color are most in play, such as affirmative action and police reform. p>

Rather than claiming to be an ally, the alliance is best seen in the eye of the beholder. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to allyship, to be a better ally to people of color, it is important to challenge, disrupt, and proactively engage in conversations against racism throughout the year, not just during Black History Month. .

Related: How can you start scaling your business to be actively anti-racist?

When people make assumptions about people of color without substantiated evidence, it is right to challenge those assumptions. Unfortunately, it is common for people of color to have their qualifications questioned or to be mistakenly identified in lower-level or administrative roles (even when they are leaders). To demonstrate covenant through action, it is important to say something when you...