by Tyson Amir
I'm trying to be cognizant of not making sweeping statements of certain personalities in the main. I do not want to paint with a broad brush because it prevents you from tending to the nuances and finer details. To be clear, I am not saying all who are race scholars, commentators, and authors are not helping to fight for the liberation and independence of Black People. It is foolish to make such a blanket claim. It is possible to occupy a space in academia and the media, as well as in the field, working to bring about change. Academia, media celebrity, and tangible movement work are not mutually exclusive.
There are a number of examples of people who push the academic envelope and have a foot in the street, fighting the good fight. The movement is made better by their contributions. However, there are some who have no real action behind their words at all. They occupy no tangible space in the movement unless there is a chance for a photo-op or some other advantageous move to boost their visibility. They are skillfully able to exploit movements for their own personal gain. They might contribute as a critical voice or simply echo what the establishment wants to hear. Either way, they are able to profit off of the social discord present in our society.
This new realm that accompanies race in America should make one question whether these people are sincerely and genuinely interested in a solution, or if they are more focused on their status and paycheck. In searching for an analogy to this phenomenon, I've come across several that I feel warrant the same type of questioning. When examining the privatized American health care system, one has to question whether the industry is genuinely interested in health of patients or maintaining a system whereby bodies keep moving in and out of hospitals for high premiums. Does the health care system really want to see all Americans happy and healthy? Related to and equally deserving of question is the pharmaceutical industry. Does it really concern itself with curing customers’ conditions, or is it more interested in a revolving consumer base that grows more and more dependent on high-priced drug treatments? The shareholders for major pharmaceutical companies want to see big profits every quarter; they are hoping their drugs fly off the shelves, which means people are in need of those drugs. Regular people are not in the habit of collecting medicines like memorabilia; they either develop a habit that makes them dependent on drugs or are prescribed them by their doctors and physicians. Is it really about health and cures, or is it about consumption?
Similar questions should be asked of military contractors and gun manufacturers. Their business is war and death. Are the gun manufacturers at all concerned about the more than 400,000 Americans killed due to gun violence since 9/11, according to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? War and fear are very profitable. Are these institutions of death concerned about the blood on their hands or is their financial bottom line more important? The Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) deserves questioning as well. Is the PIC really about rehabilitation and ending incarceration, or is it about warehousing majority black and brown bodies for profit? One must wonder.
This is what can happen when industry is built around a thing. I am not claiming those who exploit what has become the industry of race politics have the same blood on their hands as weapons contractors or the PIC does, but the commonality in all of the previous examples is the pursuit of profit that can potentially blind the industry to the moral and ethical implications of their work. Race politics in the modern world has become an industry. That is something that has to be acknowledged. We have our celebrities and "professionals" who are called upon anytime something erupts in America that is race related. People get their airtime. They get a chance to plug their books and most recent articles. It really makes you question if these people are genuinely interested in seeing an end to what is putting money in their pockets, food on their plates, and fame behind their name. Some may even probe deeper with the question and examine who has been granted a voice in the world of "race relations" and why. Certain voices don't exist anymore; they are either dead or in prison, and other voices loudly and proudly ring out. History has clearly shown us that there is a price to pay for true liberation work, not a check to be made and fame to be had, but that's for an entirely different discussion.
Allies
In the work of movement building, it is important for people involved to understand their role and play that role to the best of their ability. It almost seems a moot point to explain, but any organized effort can be ruined by an ineffective approach stemming from mismanagement of resources. A brief historical analysis of liberation struggles will show you the importance of organization and structure. Not all are arranged using the same hierarchical structure, but organized movements need clear delineations for efficiency’s sake. In the American context, the movement/struggle for freedom has always been structured. Slave rebellions, the abolitionist struggle, and resistance to Jim Crow all had an organized base. Any study of the Underground Railroad will reveal it was a complex web of people and places conspiring together to help smuggle black bodies to freedom. Leadership was integral to the success of the movement, and people were conferred the title conductor, which illustrated their position as one who helped steer people to freedom. The NAACP, Universal Negro Improvement Association, various factions of the civil rights movement like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, or the Nation of Islam, and the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, and even organizations such as the Crips, Bloods, Vice Lords, and Gangster Disciples, all have well-defined leadership structures. There is no way to ignore the fact that leadership and structure is crucial in any organized effort.
Although different, they each possessed a process for becoming part of an organization and a period of acculturation to learn the ways of the movement. Once you become part of an organization, you have to learn your role in it. There is also a mechanism in place for dealing with people who intentionally or unintentionally attempt to represent the movement without going through the prerequisite training. The modern world has, via the Internet and specifically social media, introduced a wrinkle into this praxis because people are able to garner attention and espouse critical viewpoints that are reflective of a struggle without being plugged into a particular outlet of the movement.
Their fame or status can make them feel entitled to a position of leadership or importance in the struggle even though they haven't paid their dues or gone through the necessary training that in a traditional sense would allow them a role in the movement. Not everybody can lead; not everybody should be looked at as a mouthpiece of the struggle either. All must work for the common good of the movement, but not all perform the same work.
My writing this book is not a claim to be a leader. I play my role, whatever that may be, in the struggle. If I am called upon to lead, then I hope and pray that I join the ranks of those in a position of leadership who have led with wisdom and humility. If I am to follow, then I hope and pray that I follow and execute whatever tasks are mine. Most importantly I hope to work to establish a foundation ensuring that the next generation will eventually be able to take up the struggle and keep the movement alive for as long as it is needed.
These next few passages are designed to address issues that occur at times with folks who are allies. An ally is someone who is not of the community directly affected by institutional discrimination but wishes to work with the community to help them find solutions to their problems. Some allies find themselves out of position. Many of us are familiar with the term white ally, people who are white who wish to assist in the movement for black liberation. But we have other allies as well who are not white who sometimes violate their position.
Examples of allies who assisted in the black liberation struggle with a level of excellence are names like John Brown, who gave his life and the lives of his sons for the abolition of slavery. He never attempted to co-opt or appropriate the movement. He found a way to work within the boundaries of the movement by using his white privilege to enhance the struggle
and died a heroic death. Another example is Grace Lee Boggs, who worked tirelessly in various movements, especially the black liberation movement throughout the twentieth and the early part of the twenty-first century. She was of Chinese descent but loved and lived for the struggle of oppressed people worldwide. She was an instrumental figure in the black liberation movement and a looming presence throughout the Detroit area.
A woman who I was blessed to meet who was an incredible ambassador and ally is Yuri Kochiyama. Kochiyama was a Japanese-American activist who dedicated her entire life to liberation movements. She organized in the Japanese community combating Japanese internment and other political and social issues her community faced. She also supported other struggles for freedom and independence outside of her community. She shared the same birthdate as Malcolm X and became a member of Malcolm's organization, the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU). Kochiyama was present on the day he was assassinated and was one of the first people to rush to his side after he was shot. She later became involved with the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, continuing her commitment to liberation struggles. She served as an important figure in multiple struggles within and outside of her ethnic community.
These are examples of allies. Due to their proven commitment, at times their role may have been to lead, but they always worked within the context of the movement. In today's world, a voice who I would say is representative of the term ally is Tim Wise. He's a scholar who is described as an anti-racism activist. He's written several books on various aspects of racism and white privilege, and he tours widely educating predominantly white audiences on the realities of the oppressiveness of the American racist apparatus. He pulls no punches in explaining white supremacy and white privilege and has a very matter-of-fact approach to debunking the colorblind American hero narrative that is pervasive in American society today. He has a very powerful voice and uses it to support the movement. This merits him ally status.
If you are not familiar with any of these previous examples, then you need to be. All found their role in the movements that they were assisting and performed their duties to the best of their ability, but most importantly they did not attempt to co-opt the movement and in the process silence the black voice of the movement. They worked in conjunction with the movement to enhance the struggle and not to put themselves at the forefront of a struggle that belongs to another people.
It is important to understand allies who have worked to enhance the movement to be able to understand allies who make contributions that, at times, detract from the movements they claim to serve. All examples above were allies who played their position effectively and efficiently. Allies who are out of position do the exact opposite. They might place themselves in positions of leadership in a movement that is not theirs or find ways to occupy space that should be held by a black voice and attempt to advocate the direction, wants, and needs of a struggle that is not their own. This is a message to the "allies" who wish to assist in the liberation struggle. In an age where cultural appropriation is at an all-time high, it is important for black people to not allow allies to appropriate our struggle. We have precedent for allies who worked with us in the struggle, and we hold to that tradition; these other folks who are out here out of position need to be "gently" reminded as to how they can best assist our struggle, and that is not by exploiting it for their own personal gain.
Problems with Allies in the Modern World
Dear Allies, be you white or some other color, your desire to support our movement is appreciated, but it is important for you to know that you are not and will never be leaders of our struggle. Throughout history, there are far too many instances where the black voice was marginalized or deliberately muted. You cannot support liberation of black people if you contribute to the silencing of black voices. You cannot be the voice of our people or our struggle. That should be a given, but just in case it is not, then it needs to be said. Maybe nobody has told you that before, so let me be the first to do so. As an ally you play a role. At times it is an important role, but you are never to lead. You may stand with us on the front lines but always in the capacity of a support role. We are the ones who bear the full brunt of this racism and oppression. You have the privilege to walk away from our struggle at any time and go back to your regular life. We are the ones whose ancestors have been striving for generations to find their way to freedom, and whether or not we fight, we are still affected by the racism and institutional discrimination of America. You on the other hand, depending on what type of privilege you have in society, still benefit from the institutional discrimination. This is our fight. We do not need you to speak for us or on our behalf. We are more than capable of articulating the direction of our movement on our own. We've been doing so for hundreds of years without you. You are not our saviors, and you will not save us. You can be an important asset to the struggle if you are willing to support it in ways that are most effective.
What you need to do, if you wish to assist black people in their struggle for freedom and liberation, is first, listen and learn from those around you. Second, recognize that your role is ancillary; you provide support and play your part when your role is required. Third, know that if you are interested in fame and status, this not the place for you.
Our struggle is not something to build your resume up with or to be used as a stepping stone to bigger and better career goals. In our struggle, you will never have a starring role. It will be more the role of a support actor or an extra. If hearing this does not appeal to your aspirations for getting involved in the movement, then feel free to walk away now. Our struggle most likely didn't need your support in the first place. Fourth, being on the front lines with us is important and needed, but your greatest utility will be served in your own community, actively working to organize members of your community to assist in the struggle and, most importantly, mobilizing them to deconstruct the pillars of white supremacy or other forms of ethnic/cultural supremacy that affect blacks. That is a major contribution you all can make. And there are some great white allies and other allies as well. They know their place in the movement and play their role to perfection. I send out much love and respect to those who occupy that space.
Note: This is not directed solely at white people or white allies. There are quite a few allies from other backgrounds who think they are entitled to positions of leadership in the black struggle. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from, if you're not black, then you have no position of leadership in our struggle. It doesn't matter if you've married into the black/African diaspora, been raised by black folks, or identify with black culture. You do not have any ownership over our struggle. You are not us; therefore, this is not about you. The struggle is for black lives and freedom. This is about black people. If you support, then you support under our leadership and direction, and offer your skills and expertise within the confines of our movement.
There are some voices out there that hijack the black struggle for their own personal gain. That's a violation of everything necessary for supporting the struggle. If you have ever committed one of these gross violations, then consider this your long overdue "Black Card" pulling moment. It's essential that this takes place for your sake and for the sake of what matters most, which is the liberation of black people and not your pocket or ego.
Do this simple exercise for me. Look in the mirror, look at your parents, and look at your upbringing; if all of those things tell you unequivocally that you are not a member of the black community, then you are not us and don't speak for us. In case there is some confusion, I'll explain a little further because there will be some who read these words and feel themselves exempt. Listening to hip-hop and being inspired by The Autobiography of Malcolm X or some other famous black literary work does not make you worthy of carrying the banner of the black liberation movement. I repeat, dating or marrying somebody who is of the black experience does not make you black by association and eligible to carry the banner of the black l
iberation movement. There is no blackness through osmosis or what Rachel Dolezal made a brief national debate in minds and hearts of people who carry privilege, "transracial." Black folks have tried for centuries to solve the problems they faced in America. If the solution was simply changing their "race" by declaring themselves a member of another race, then we would've solved all this generations ago. Black folks know all too well that we are black, and there is no changing that fact in America and the greater Western world. In light of the wisdom of the Godfather of comedy, Mr. Paul Mooney, we know that white folks and other non-blacks are all in for black culture and pretending to act black when it's convenient but none of them want to be black when it's time to face those black problems that black people deal with daily. With all that said, it doesn't matter what your orientation to the black community is, if you are not of us, then you are not us. And nothing that you can do or believe will change that fact.
So for my people out there who feel some deep connection to the black experience, it is cool to feel a connection, but you are not black and cannot and will not speak on behalf of black people on black matters. Best-case scenario, you are still an ally. The reality of that ally status needs to be confirmed upon a thorough vetting process to ensure said individual is authentically interested in black liberation and not cultural appropriation. If ally status is conferred to you, then report to your nearest black liberation organization and follow steps one through four which were laid out above.
Some of you still might not understand this is referring to you. I'll attempt to present a few scenarios where "allies" have violated their role and have attempted to lead when they needed to be following. If you've ever been a keynote speaker at an event discussing problems in the black community or African diaspora, and you're not black, then this is for you. If you've ever been in a position where you've been asked to speak on the black struggle and did not find issue with the fact that you instead of a person of the experience was speaking for the experience, then this is for you. If you've ever taken part in some action relating to the black struggle, and you are constantly trying to interject your voice into the discussion and not allowing those who live the experience to speak, then this is for you. Just like it wouldn't be proper for a man to attempt to be the voice of a feminist organization, the same is true for allies when it comes to the black experience. Or for a black man or woman attempting to speak on the liberation movement for the indigenous peoples of this land. That is their experience, and they are the leaders of that struggle. I can ally and support as much as they allow me to, but I should never attempt to put myself in a position that eclipses their voice.
