Some Tips to Help with Ally-ship, Activism, and Advocacy as an Author Of The Resistance:

First, this one goes out to all of the people being oppressed:

You are entitled to rest. Your exhaustion is valid, and the system is intent on suffocating you to wear you down.

Your anger is sacred - and it is the fuel for the fire of Revolution.

YOUR voice is history, echoing the cries of your ancestors.

Your survival in and of itself is resistance as it is living proof of the collective strength of the ancestors.

On the Topic of Sacred Rage:

This is a crucial concept to familiarize yourself with.

Sacred Rage is the fiery spirit of injustice witnessed and endured and the primal scream of the marginalized souls worn thin. It is a catalyzing force of awakening change and rebirth

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What Sacred Rage look like? It can come in various ways - tears of frustration falling like rain, elevated voices that are fully unapologetic and clear, mobilized bodies that march in uniformity for equality with hearts ablaze that refuse to bow to silence, fear, or attempts to dilute oneself.

For White Allies:

When you observe a BIPOC person embodying Sacred Rage, there are a few key things to remember:

* STAY OUT OF THE WAY – do not intervene or tell them to calm down.

* AMPLIFY THEIR VOICE – But only if they explicitly ask you to do so.

* PROTECT THEIR SPACE – By giving them the space to speak freely, and by keeping them safe from further marginalization or harm

* PROCESS YOUR OWN EMOTIONS – But do this privately, and without burdening the person experiencing Sacred Rage.

To ALL Allies Considering Activism:

This is a fair and crucial warning: Do NOT engage in activism unless you're willing to RISK IT ALL. This means your comfort, your status, your privileges, even your own freedom.

This is NOT symbolic, and it is not just a metaphor – BIPOC lives have always hung in this balance here, and many have been lost in the fight for freedom, equality, and civil rights.

BIPOC ancestors risked lynching for voting rights. We may risk police brutality for protesting peacefully. BIPOC children risk discrimination for simply existing, and their families are often at risk for separation, segregation, and loss.

KNOW that “Risking It All” is Non-Negotiable: Do not be a performative or token activist, as this only legitimizes oppression of marginalized people and causes them direct harm. Partial and half-hearted commitments embolden perpetrators of dangerous acts on oppressed people. There is no space for half-ass solidarity that leaves oppressed people vulnerable.

ALL-IN devotion honors our lifelong sacrifices and those of our ancestors.

This means YOU must ask yourself: Will I lose job/security/family approval due to this cause? Am I prepared to face backlash, harassment, arrest, or even violence and death?

Will I be able to live with myself if BIPOC friends suffer while I remain safe?

If any hesitation arises – then activism is not your path.

Take a Moment to Honestly Assess What Your Limits are and if being an Ally is for you:

Before joining direct action group or cause, make sure that you reflect on your courage and capacity.

Can you withstand rocks thrown in solidarity with marginalized targets –verbal abuse, online harassment, physical threats?

Have you overcome your own bullying and trauma enough to bear the brunt of advocacy aggression, or are wounds still raw?

If you find yourself reaching any of the following answers, back out of Activism:

“I’m not yet strong enough”

“I am still healing from my own pain.”

“I’m fearful of the consequences on my life and livelihood.”

And if that is the case, do not despair cause there are still ways you can help and learn to be active and helpful to find alternative paths still honor your Ally-ship. Some things you can do are Digital activism: Sign petitions, share crucial info online. Letter writing campaigns to make an influence on policymakers. Phone banking: To lend your voice support for causes via targeted calls. Behind-the-scenes support and volunteering for fundraisers, and research.

All of these roles are VITAL – not lesser – and allow you to contribute without re-triggering personal trauma, to build strength while still honoring your Ally-ship vows, and to gradually work towards direct action when your heart and mind are ready for those undertakings.