An ally is someone who is not a member of an underrepresented group but who takes action to support that group to help make their workplace more diverse and inclusive for all.
For workplaces to become truly inclusive it is up to people who hold positions of privilege to be active allies and to take responsibility for making changes that will help others be successful.
Allies at all levels can take action with simple, everyday efforts that make a real difference and in this series, we highlight some things that you can do to be an ally and to support your colleagues from underrepresented groups.
#1: Understand racism … but also your own privilege.
Let’s be honest: many white people don’t understand how long racism has been around or how pervasive it continues to be. Many are, only now, hearing for the first time from colleagues how different their experiences can be.
So one of the first steps in being a good ally is to do your research and understand racism by reading news stories, books and asking colleagues about their experiences.
However, understanding racism isn’t enough.
The second part of this is understanding your own privilege. White people need to understand their own privilege and the power it has to bring about positive change.
Read the full “How to be an Ally” series here.
