‘It was only when I accepted my privilege that I could progress to white allyship’

Published by Professional Social Work magazine, 19 May, 2022

“A strong sense of social justice.” This is how I have been described by social work professionals I have worked with during my first year of my social work Masters.

My motive for becoming a social worker was wanting to be part of a collective responsibility for positive social change. However, when I find myself talking to my peers about race, why do I become fearful and uncomfortable, about saying the ‘wrong thing’? A fear I have heard echoed by other student social workers. The answer is because the topic of racism is uncomfortable.

It is not that I have never considered racism before. I went on Black Lives Matters marches, I shared petitions online, I have listened to podcasts, I did not think I held explicitly racist views. But growing up in a small town, where I was not exposed to multi-culturalism, I was brought up with a very naïve view on racism. So, I recognise that I have a lot of learning to do.

Recently I interviewed Millie Kerr, the first Anti-Racist Lead Practitioner in the UK, working for Brighton & Hove City Council. We spoke about her role, and for me it marks the beginning of my journey to white allyship.

Millie’s role is to consult with social workers on cases, develop anti-racist practice within the authority, promote anti-racist education at universities, and speak/provide training on topics such as considering culture and identity within social work assessments and the adultification of black teenagers.

Millie also facilitates a weekly anti-racist discussion group open to practitioners across all children’s services. She says: “These groups provide an educative safe space, where professionals get the chance to get it wrong. I would never say you can be comfortable discussing race as it is by nature, an uncomfortable topic.”

I have realised that integral to white allyship is admitting you get it wrong. The journey should not be comfortable. Watching the ‘Triple A Chinwag’ on YouTube conversations between Wayne Reid from BASW and his colleague Andrew Thompson talking about white allyship inspired me to start thinking about my own journey. I know that I must first consider my white privilege - it is only when I accept this, that I can progress towards white allyship.

My journey began ten years ago when I moved away from my hometown for university. I found myself exposed to different cultures, forcing me to question the narratives I had grown up with and the resultant biases I may have. I went to a pub with a group of friends who were black and witnessed bouncers say to them: “Make sure you do not cause any trouble inside.” They did not look at me when they said these comments. I realised I was protected by my white privilege, a concept that I had never considered.

I have started to question my biases. Did I assume that the black male walking towards me had negative intentions? Did I subconsciously get chatting with the white person on my training day rather than the black person? When shadowing a family assessment, was I more concerned about the controlling nature of the father because he was Muslim? Regrettably, the answer to all these questions was yes.

This was not always easy, no one wants to admit they have racist thoughts, however acknowledging these biases is crucial in the journey towards white allyship. And this uncomfortableness is nothing in comparison to the racism experienced by those from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds. So it is the least I can do. 

One concern I have always had is the fear of saying something racist without meaning too. Millie offers the following advice: “Accept and acknowledge we all have biases and keep them in check. Students should be curious, ask questions, own what you do not know. Ask someone how they’d like to be identified. Ask what is important to them in terms of their culture. Find out how you can meet those needs. Educate yourself, do not leave it to people from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds to do this for you.”

This is another lesson I have learnt about white allyship. Be prepared to learn, accept that you will have racist views, and then challenge these. Be humble. Do not have a white saviour complex - being a white ally should not mean thinking you can fix all the problems for people from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds single-handedly.

White allyship is working collaboratively with those from Black, Asian and Global majority backgrounds, they have the lived experience of racism. Support them in their needs rather than focusing on your own. Look at the context of the issue - is systemic racism present that needs a longer-term solution? It should not be a process which is motivated by a need to help people to make yourself feel better.

Acknowledging that racism is trauma, is another realisation I have had on this journey. As a social work student, I need to recognise that this trauma is embedded in all experiences, from systematic racism, overt racism and microaggressions. It is important that intersectionality and individual difference is considered.

The Black, Asian and Global Majority groups are not homogenous, each person has a different experience of racism and therefore has individual needs. When working with service users and colleagues from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds, take time to learn about their life and consider how racism may have impacted them.

Millie sits on the Anti-Racist Project Board, which focuses on progressing action plans that benefit Black, Asian and Global Majority children and families and social workers. This means having uncomfortable conversations to challenge the systemic racism found within social work. Millie explains: “It is the important for white social workers to speak up and use their white privilege, when their colleagues may feel tired of speaking up, or do not feel they have the power to do so.”

The concept of power dynamics and race is, again, something I had never considered. I have never felt I could not speak up due to my race. Questioning the systemic racism in social work and other systems is not just a Black, Asian and Global Majority issue. To be a white ally, I should be prepared to call out racism I observe and support my colleagues to challenge systemic racism.

Going forward, my next steps towards white allyship is to increase my awareness of the impacts of racism around me, be alert and aware of what is going on. I want to improve my empathy, by considering how it may feel for non-white service users and colleagues to be living in a white majority environment.

I will continue to question my biases, reflect, and learn from these, as part of anti-racist practice.  Most importantly, I will challenge any oppression and racism I witness, in the hope that is will positively impact the social change that is needed to combat racism, even if it is uncomfortable.