The Cost of Allyship

by | Jun 21, 2020 | Health, Mental Health

The death of George Floyd a couple of weeks ago, started a shift in our country. For years, black people have felt alone in their quest for equality and desire to rid our communities of police brutality. We have prayed, sang, yelled, and marched to initiate reform. Our voices have too often fallen on deaf ears and gone unheard. After seeing the video of George Floyd’s slow death, I was angry, sad, anxious and felt the need to do something. In that moment, all I could do was speak out…and speak loudly. I even sent out an SOS for help– I called out for allies in my circles. Little did I know, allies all over would step up— and in large numbers. They came from all walks of life, all six ethnicities, all genders, and all classes. To date, there have been protests in all 50 states and 18 countries. The visual of seeing every day people arm and arm protesting for the same cause is breathtaking. With the help of our allies, I’m cautiously optimistic that the changes we’ve appealed for are about to happen. For participating allies, there will be a cost.

If you are an ally committed to do the work that lies ahead, be prepared for the following:

  1. You may lose relationships, including family and close friends.
  2. Your identity or character may come into question. People will ask questions like “who are you?” and say things like, “I thought I knew you” or “you’ve changed.”
  3. You may find yourself in an unpopular position and have to defend it. Fighting for justice and equality will be hard to understand for those who don’t believe there is an issue.
  4. At times, staying sane and protecting your mental health may be challenging.
  5. In extreme cases, you may suffer physical harm. People will be angry and you could find yourself on the receiving end of someone’s horrible response.

The fight for justice and equality have never been easy, nor have they ever been free. There has always been a cost. Besides the costs discussed above, there will be a monetary cost–and it will be HUGE. New rules, regulations and protocols must be put in place for police forces in every state. Creating and funding new initiatives will likely cost millions. We can not reduce and ultimately end police brutality without spending a large sum of money.

True allies have to understand that reforming a system that has oppressed a group of people for so long is a process. Listen and learn. It will take time, consistency and accountability to effect change.