3 Ways White People Can Start Learning to Follow
An assertive White person’s guide to supporting, not leading
No matter what our political beliefs or income levels are, White people share the experience of being centered in American life. When we do protest, it’s often to protect systems that keep us there, whether we’re protesting anti-discrimination laws to correct unfair hiring practices or measures meant to protect public health.
Because of this, those eager to see a racially equitable society, myself included, have felt unsure about how to best support the Black Lives Matter movement. Do we post on social media or stay quiet to let other voices be heard? The better question to ask ourselves might be: How can I support the movement that’s already in place?
It’s a deceptively difficult question for many of us. Individualism is baked into the American psyche. From the frontier to the courtroom, we like our heroes independent. We even like our law enforcers to be law-breaking mavericks. In many ways, following is anathema to the White American ideal.
But we can and must learn how to center other voices and points of view and listen more than we speak. White people need to learn how to follow. Here’s how to start.
