National Domestic Violence Awareness Project

profeminist:

“East Oakland activist John Jones III has a request for white people who want to show their support at demonstrations against racism: “Don’t hold up a sign that says, ‘I can’t breathe.’ This is not about you. I’m the one who can’t breathe.”

It’s not that Jones doesn’t appreciate the effort. But he said white people who want to be long-term allies of his fellow African Americans can leverage their privilege in more helpful ways, like leading protests in their own suburban communities about police brutality. Or demanding that political candidates not be allowed to receive money from police unions.

“There is a vital role for white allies. It’s crucial and essential if we’re going to change these things we’ve been protesting about,” said Jones, community engagement director at Just Cities, an Oakland social justice organization.

“Protesting,” Jones said, “is just a step.”

Becoming a strong white ally doesn’t happen overnight or after taking a class, though many exist and are often aimed at helping white people see the privilege they were born into.

Shakirah Simley, director of San Francisco’s Office of Racial Equity, said friends and acquaintances have been texting her in recent days asking, “ ‘What is the one thing I can do?’

“Well,” Simley said, “you’re dealing with 400 years of oppression.” It starts by “trusting the people who are close to the pain.”

Read the full piece here