How White People Can Hold Each Other Accountable to Stop Institutional Racism

You can — and should — help.
Illustration of a blue person and red person.
Lydia Ortiz

During the second round of democratic debates on July 31, as the topic turned to race and the criminal justice system in America, presidential candidate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) explained why it’s her responsibility as well as the responsibility of other white people to discuss institutional racism. Gillibrand spoke openly about how she and fellow white people can and should use their white privilege to educate other white people, many of whom voted for Donald Trump.

Among other things, Gillibrand mentioned that niceness and not talking about it is not the answer to racial inequity. Gillibrand, like many white people since 2016, has recognized her unique and privileged position within political conversations and the world at large, and highlighted that it’s her responsibility to explain white privilege and institutional racism to fellow white women, who have a history of upholding white supremacy. One way to explain it, she said, is to get personal. “When their son is walking down a street with a bag of M&M’s in his pocket wearing a hoodie, his whiteness is what protects him from not being shot. When their child has a car that breaks down and he knocks on someone’s door for help and the door opens and the help is given, it’s his whiteness that protects him from being shot.”

While white allyship and the responsible use of white privilege has always been important, many have stressed the need for white people to actively practice anti-racism and be allies since 2016. There are lots of ways that white people can use our privilege and make life less frustrating and dangerous for black people and people of color — because like Gillibrand said, it shouldn’t always be the responsibility of black people and people of color to educate white people on how they are being racist. Here are some necessary steps we should all take to fight racism and spread positive change.

Trust black people and people of color.

It isn’t up to white people to decide what is and is not racist. It’s our job as white people to listen to black people and people of color when they say that something is inherently racist, instead of making excuses and upholding the systems, words, and actions harming them.

“White allies should actively use their power and influence to include people of color in any conversation in which decisions ... being made, or the issues that are being talked about, directly impact people of color,” says Hernán Carvente Martinez, youth partnership strategist at Youth First. “Too often, decisions are being made by white people who have no direct connection or personal experience to the issues that they are talking about. True white allies should always take time to read the rooms that they are in and ensure that the right people are represented. And if it means that a white ally should give up their seat at the table for a person of color to be included then that is what they need to do.”

Words aren't always enough.

There is always room to grow, and it’s easy to give yourself credit for being a passive ally. In 2019, we’re past that, says Lincoln Mondy, a progressive communications strategist. In order to effect real change, it’s necessary for each of us as individuals to take a look at how we’re actively being anti-racist and using our privilege. This can include the way we spend our money and where we spend it, or how we act apart from what values and opinions we preach.

One way to start is to ask yourself how you’re taking action each day to make a material, visible difference for black people and people of color. “It's not okay to merely be a passive ally. I need accomplices,” Mondy told Teen Vogue. “I need white accomplices to use their privilege, and bodies (if they're able) to actively interrupt white supremacy. I need white accomplices who understand that it's not going to be comfortable. I need white accomplices dedicated to listening and supporting people of color. To me, an accomplice understands that sometimes their bodies [being present] can be the difference of a Black person experiencing police brutality.”

Taking direct action, like the person who stood between black people and police officers during a Sacramento City Council meeting following the District Attorney's decision to not charge the police officers who killed Stephon Clark, is one way to act on your values and prevent the use of excessive force.

“That's what an accomplice looks like to me. People who recognize that it's going to take a hell of a lot more than tweets to help combat oppression against marginalized communities,” says Mondy.

For Sierra, a 21-year-old queer black woman, it’s important for white people to de-center themselves, especially in how they vote in electoral politics because, “To be frank, most white allies will be fine no matter who the next president is.” However, “Minorities, especially Black women like me, are facing increasingly dangerous situations in America and should be advocated for at the polls,” she says, which is why white people should act and vote with more marginalized people in mind.

Confront fellow white people.

As the last election cycle proved, talking openly about politics with friends, family members, and peers is not easy or comfortable. But it shouldn’t have to be for us to do the right thing. “Please talk to your family and friends about politics, even if it's uncomfortable. Please use your privilege as a white person to protect people of color,” says Jude, a non-binary Latinx creator.

Wandy Felicita, a 24-year-old Latina who works in news, says that one of the best ways white people can use their privilege by actively advocating for black people and people of color at all times. “If you see or know that your classmate or co-worker is being treated unfairly, being paid less, being given more to do without compensation or recognition, speak up for them,” she told Teen Vogue. “This includes when you see your peers of color being given ‘busywork’ that neglects, negates or detracts from the good work they do while others who are less experienced are receiving accolades due to their whiteness.”

One way to actively care about what happens to our peers of color is to practice consistent awareness of when we have the power and responsibility to make a change. Wandy Felicita says that when she was in college, the president of a club she was in was a white woman who was always conscious of who was receiving leadership opportunities and roles. Because of this, “she actively advocated for people of color to be well-represented, sought out and accounted for representation in the activities that we did, and directed our group to provide volunteer service to marginalized communities.” Speaking up and using time and resources to uplift others who need it more than you do is one of the best ways to be an ally.

Speak up, but know when to be quiet.

It’s always necessary to do your own research instead of expecting black people and people of color to explain everything to you, which is incredibly emotionally and mentally laborious on top of the oppression they already experience — in fact, that’s the whole point of why white people have a responsibility to stand up against racism. But while it’s important to use whatever privilege you have to do that research and share information, sometimes the best thing you can do is know when to step back and be quiet.

“Amplifying voices and experiences rather than gathering the information and explaining experiences that you have no part of is necessary. Do not speak over people of color,” says Jude.

That being said, being intentional about the conversations that you do have with white friends, family, and peers about the biases and misunderstandings that white people hold against people of color is one important step to take to break the silence surrounding racism.

“The 2016 elections showed us that there are so many white people in this country who still carry really negative misconceptions and biases against people of color because they have either not been educated or challenged to think otherwise,” Carvente Martinez told Teen Vogue. The good news is that white allies always have the chance to challenge the people close to us whether it’s at a dinner table with family or at the office during a team meeting. This could be as simple as explaining how white privilege protects white people, like Gillibrand said, or it could be a more complicated conversation around the nuances of racism and how it’s upheld in subtle ways.

While some forms of silence are necessary to uplift black people and people of color’s voices instead of thinking we know best, silence and inaction about racism makes us complicit. Moving forward, it’s not enough to say we understand racism and see that it’s bad without actively challenging that hate.