Allyship: The responsibility of privilege

What is an ally?

Ally is a verb, not an identity. Allyship is the practice of doing the work of standing up for equity-denied communities and building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability. Allies use their own privilege to stand up against injustice, challenge discriminatory behaviour, and amplify the voices of those who may be unheard. 

Being an ally means recognizing the need for change and committing to fostering inclusion and equity for everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or any other aspect of identity.

Why being an ally is important

• Advocating for Equality: Inequality affects everyone, whether directly or indirectly. By becoming an ally, you help build a more inclusive, fair, and just society.
• Amplifying Voices: Equity-denied communities often face systemic barriers to having their voices heard. Allies can help amplify their concerns and experiences.
• Challenging Injustice: Silence in the face of discrimination allows harmful behaviour and systems to continue. Allies take action to call out injustice and stand against discrimination.
• Building Stronger Communities: Inclusivity strengthens communities. By actively supporting all individuals, we create environments where everyone feels valued and respected.

How to be a good ally

• Educate Yourself: Take the time to understand the experiences and challenges faced by equity-denied communities. Read books on the history of systemic inequality, immerse yourself in stories of people who have different backgrounds and experiences, and actively work to diversify your networks. Allyship shouldn’t end with increasing your knowledge, but it is an important place to start.
• Choose Inclusion: Inclusion is all about creating spaces, in your workplace, social, or family circles, where people who have historically been excluded or discriminated against are welcomed and accepted. Acts of allyship help foster and build safer and more respectful communities and spaces. Active and effective allyship is critical in promoting inclusion and can create a sense of solidarity and belonging when most needed.
• Empathy is Key: Empathy is a powerful foundation for allyship. It often serves as the first step toward becoming an ally and fosters a mindset that encourages active support. Leading with empathy can ease difficult conversations—an important aspect of allyship—by meeting others with respect and understanding. When challenging harmful language or exclusionary behaviour, empathy helps build connections and reminds us of our shared humanity.
• Amplify Unheard Voices: You can show allyship by ensuring equity-denied communities are heard and their voices prioritized. Whether you are working on an assignment with classmates, leading a meeting with colleagues, or participating in community discussions, make space for diverse perspectives, actively listen, and use your platforms and networks to uplift those whose voices may otherwise go unheard. Allies can use their own privilege to help shift the narrative and include a diversity of voices and perspectives.
• Call Out Hateful Language: When you witness discrimination or microaggressions, it’s important to speak up. Though it can be difficult, silence allows discrimination to persist. As an ally, approach these situations with curiosity – ask questions, model respectful and inclusive language, and get comfortable being uncomfortable. The more we challenge hateful language, the easier it becomes for others to do the same. 

The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants' short video demonstrates how racism multiplies when nobody objects.

• Recognize Your Bias: Understanding your own biases is a crucial step toward being a better ally. We all have unconscious biases that can shape our actions and decisions, often without realizing it. By reflecting on these biases, you can challenge your assumptions and work toward more inclusive behaviour. Stay open to learning, listen to others’ experiences, and acknowledge when your biases may be affecting your perspective. Awareness is the first step to change. 
• Support Businesses Owned by Equity-Denied Communities: Allies can show solidarity with communities that have faced and continue to face long-standing inequities and discrimination by supporting businesses owned by equity-denied communities. When small businesses and entrepreneurs flourish, so do their communities.

Additional resources

For more information on the nuances behind allyship, we encourage you to view the resources below.

• What does it mean to be anti-racist?: A handout from the Racial Healing Handbook outlining best practices to adopt and follow in becoming an anti-racist ally.
• Guide to Allyship: An open-source starter guide developed by Heartshift Collective to help you become a more thoughtful and effective ally.
• The difference between being "not racist" and antiracist: A TED Talk by Ibram X. Kendi where he  defines the transformative concept of anti-racism to help us recognize, take responsibility for and reject prejudices.
• What is Allyship?: A short video from Lean In discussing what privilege is and ways to show up as an ally.
• Indigenous Ally Toolkit: A toolkit developed by the Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy Network that serves as a guide to becoming an ally for Indigenous peoples.
• Generation 4 Equity: Allyship Fact Sheet: A fact sheet developed by Native Women’s Association of Canada that introduces methods to practicing gender-based Indigenous allyship.
• The Anatomy of an Apology: A quick guide developed by YouthREX that outlines the components of an apology towards those who have experienced oppression, violence, and marginalization.

Final thoughts

Being an ally is a lifelong journey of learning, listening, empathy, and standing for and beside equity-denied communities. It’s about standing in solidarity, not just when it’s convenient but when it’s necessary. Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable world.