Moving from Allyship to Solidarity

Lately I’ve been finding that the term “ally” doesn’t resonate with me. How can we recognize our shared struggles when we’re working within a militaristic paradigm that (1) centers those with power and privilege and (2) reinforces the binary logic of ally vs enemy?

Progressives rarely admit it, but saviorism is definitionally built into allyship because, when we say that we're striving to be an ally, we’re saying “this work is not mine.” Another shortcoming of allyship is its individualistic focus, which tends to privilege personal journeys over collective justice work.

I’m certainly not the first person to raise these issues. Black, Brown, and Indigenous activists, scholars, and practitioners have pointed out how, all too often, allies inadvertently harm the very communities they seek to support. This is one reason why some people eschew the term "ally," preferring "accomplice," "co-conspirator" or "upstander." But these other terms don't address a significant problem at the heart of most allyship models, which is the entanglement of allyship with niceness, comfort, and innocence.

For example, white people sometimes seek allyship to avoid the discomfort of confronting our complicity in racism and how we benefit from white privilege. We're so focused on trying to prove we're a “good person” that we aren't doing the complex, emotional, and collective work that's required to transform harmful dynamics and systems.

It’s taken me years to admit that the allyship framework itself can be a barrier to getting in "right relationship" and taking meaningful action toward collective liberation.

As a coach and consultant, I love to partner with leaders and organizations committed to having courageous conversations. How can I help you? Message me and let’s explore.

Remember, all systems of oppression are interconnected and we each have a role to play in ending them!