Characteristics of An Ally
- Listen Openly
- Actively pursue a process of self-education. Learn about the history and culture of target groups.
- Acknowledge and take responsibility for your own socialization, prejudices, and privileges.
- Act on your desires for building better multicultural exchanges and friendship.
- Be willing to examine and relinquish privileges.
- Learn about and take privileges.
- Learn about and take pride in your own identities.
- Make friends with people who are different from you.
- Know resources about and for target groups.
- Educate others.
- Take a public stand against discrimination and prejudice.
- Interrupt prejudice and take action against oppression even when people from the target group are not present.
- Risk discomfort
- Do not be self-righteous with others.
- Challenge the internalized oppression of people in target groups.
- Support the value of separate meetings/events/activities for members of target and agent groups.
- Have a vision of a healthy multicultural society.
Adapted from:
Evans, N.J. & Wall, V.A. (1991). Beyond Tolerance: Gay, Lesbians, and Bisexuals on Campus. Alexandria, VA: ACPA. Pp. 199-200