How to be an ally for Black lives

Despite police brutality and the lack of repercussions that come with the killing of Black lives being an epidemic that has defined the Black struggle since the beginning of slavery, recent events have caused an awakening to the extent of institutionalized racism, particularly among white people and non-Black people of color.The recognition of the toll that institutionalized racism continues to take on Black people has become even more evident in the climate of the current pandemic. But it is disproportionately affecting Black people, largely due to the lack of healthcare resources and the high rate of poverty among this demographic due to a long history of institutionalized racial policies.The murder of unarmed Black men and women at the hands of the police over the past few months has shown that Black people are not only going through one health pandemic, but two — systemic racism being the other.The growing presence of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has brought to light this reality of the multifaceted nature of racism, with its demands for the end not only of racist police, but of discriminatory laws, housing segregation, health inequities, and education inequity — all of which point to the fact that racism is a public health issue.Systemic racism is the cause of many health issues and a direct determinant of health. Within a week from the start of the protests, I saw my Instagram and Twitter feed go from an endless array of selfies to threads and resources about the dimensions of racism, ideas for how to support the BLM movement, and updates on the protests in general.The endless amount of information that has continued to circulate on social media outlets in relation to addressing racial inequality has made it impossible for anyone to claim that they do not have enough knowledge about the situation to have an opinion.Social media in the age of BLM has transformed into an outlet to spread useful information, hold people accountable, and keep the issue of racial inequality alive.It is the issue of social media that leads me to comprehend the necessity of allyship, in support of non-Black people in the movement for racial equality, when trying to address racism in America and beyond.What has made this wave of the BLM movement so continuous is the fact that this discussion on police brutality and systemic racism is finally being had across all aspects of society.More non-Black people are attending protests and being vocal about the injustices that Black people face at the hands of the police than ever before. With this movement, it seems increasingly evident that more non-Black people are also being made aware of their contributions to racism and of the necessity to remain vocal and in solidarity with Black lives.It is growing increasingly apparent that recent events have taught us the importance of non-Black allyship in addressing racism in all its dimensions.There are many different methods of allyship, starting with a personal recognition of racism on an individual level and continuing onto more active forms of allyship, such as participation in protests and phone banking elected officials.Nevertheless, while the involvement of non-Black people in the movement for racial equality is necessary, we must not forget that people of color need to be at the forefront of this movement. Allyship must, first and foremost, start with listening.The importance of allyship, particularly at a time like this, is even more significant given the detrimental impact of the recent events on the mental health of Black people.