Welcoming the dear neighbor: how to be a better ally at St. Kate’s
From its inception, St. Catherine University has had social justice at the core of its mission. The university prides itself on diversity, flaunting their commitment to inclusive excellence. The pillar of Catholic social justice encourages students to welcome their dear neighbors without distinction. While these words may sound reassuring to any person of color, how far does this allyship actually extend in practice?
The Anti-Oppression Network describes allyship as “an active, consistent, and arduous practice of unlearning and re-evaluating, in which a person in a position of privilege and power seeks to operate in solidarity with a marginalized group.” It is not an identity or a quota to be met; it is an actual desire to build relationships with marginalized individuals based on trust, consistency, and accountability. To be an ally, one must actively seek out ways to help, listen, and understand the oppressed in order to find a way to move forward, together.
The discussion of allyship has always been a concern for communities of color, but with recent events, it has come to the forefront. The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, along with the countless other murders of Black people prior, sparked a worldwide resurgence in the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Social media feeds were flooded with everything from black squares to anti-racism infographics; anything to symbolize support for the movement. Social media became even more polarized as people made their position on the #BlackLivesMatter movement known to those that followed them.
Despite the widespread support of the movement, these frequent postings of black squares or infographics begged the question: How much of this activism was actually being put into practice? Was this allyship genuine, or was it simply an act of performatism to assuage the guilt of being in a position of power? After all, it’s easy for someone to put a Black Lives Matter hashtag in their bio, but what are they actively doing to solve the issue at hand?
After the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests throughout Minneapolis, many colleges in the area put out statements addressing the situation. For example, the president of Macalester College extended an offer to help students arrested during the protests. President Becky Roloff of St. Catherine University issued a statement that acknowledged the protests, but to some seemed a little too centrist — it seemed to appease the situation, but did little to actively support the movement. The words seemed empty without action to back them up.
The Vice President of the Pan-Afrikan Student Alliance, Veronica Porter, ‘21 (Biology), said “there feels as if there is support on campus, but it’s hard to know if there really is.” She cited a student Facebook page for expressing concerns on campus as one of the things that helped the most during this tumultuous time. While not supported by the university itself, the page has become a place for BIPOC students to express their dissatisfaction with the university’s lack of action. “It makes you feel like you’re not alone.”
One of the biggest ways that a person in a position of privilege can be a better ally to an underprivileged group of people is to give them the space to voice their concerns and to listen to those concerns non-judgmentally. Hilary Ornelle, ‘21 (Chemistry), the Secretary of the Pan-Afrikan Student Alliance, mentioned that “To demonstrate allyship, St. Kate’s students can build up their own capacity to receive criticism, specifically when the criticism is coming from marginalized people on campus.”
The Public Relations coordinator for Pan-Afrikan Student Alliance, Amina Sodeinde, ‘22 (Nursing), agreed, stating that, “Being an active advocate for people who are marginalized means being willing to be educated, and not feeling like it’s an attack to your character.” Allies must work to foster an environment of inclusivity and compassionate listening. Instead of victimizing themselves for not being educated, allies must address the lack of experience that stems from positions of privilege and work to understand diverse perspectives. Only by listening, empowering, and not speaking over marginalized voices can they truly be an ally to the causes that they support.
At St. Catherine University, there are multiple safe spaces for people of color to express their opinions with like-minded individuals. For example, the St. Catherine International Student Organization, one of the oldest clubs on campus, was created based on a need for a space and community for international students. While a safe space for international students, the president of SCISO, Rahma Abufoor, ‘22 (Respiratory Care) explained that SCISO is a welcoming environment for anyone who is interested in different cultures. She mentioned that a good way for St. Kate’s students to demonstrate allyship is to extend that welcoming mindset to all. “Be open-minded and create a safe environment without judgment,” she said. “Don’t feel as if you don’t want to be somewhere because you’re not a member.” She cited the fact that the co-president of the Asian Women’s Association is Latinx as an example of this; anyone can be a part of anything, as long as they’re open-minded enough to listen to diverse perspectives without taking offense.
The Pan-Afrikan Student Alliance is another organization that supports BIPOC on campus. The club is a community and a safe space for students of African descent and students who are from the African diaspora. They have different activities that celebrate both African history and their future. PASA collaborates with other schools in the area to host events such as the Collective, which provides a space to talk about difficult issues concerning the Pan-Afrikan community. Like SCISO, PASA is inclusive towards anyone who is interested in learning more about Pan-Afrikan culture.
Abufoor mentioned the importance of BIPOC students being able to identify safe spaces on campus and having the opportunity to get involved in these communities. She identified that it may be intimidating for first-year students to approach organizations. “I hope in the future to have a forum or panel where BIPOC first-year students can join and listen to a head of each club to talk about their mission,” she said, sympathizing with how overwhelming joining clubs may seem. Active outreach to BIPOC students will help them feel more welcome at the university and allow them to forge connections with people from similar backgrounds.
Being an ally is something that requires constant work. It is not something that is ever achieved; it is a lifelong commitment. By being in a position of privilege, it is important to use that privilege for good. Listen to those in your community who are suffering. Give them a space to voice their concerns. Do not speak over them; instead, amplify their voices and empower them.
Posting about your support on social media is great, but putting those words into practice is where real change takes place. Actively seek out different perspectives and see what you can do to help them. That change can begin right here on campus; there are a multitude of groups such as SCISO and PASA that host events which amplify diverse voices. Attend these events, support your local BIPOC communities, and learn from them. After all, welcoming without distinction begins with those around you: your dear neighbors of color.
