Unlikely allies

I thought about creating a section within this blog to cover terminology -- like a glossary of terms page or something along those lines. I've decided instead to just use labels to keep track of terminology. This is mainly because different people explain terms in different ways, and the beauty of all this learning is that I'm experiencing many different slants. I've heard several people talk about allies, and I've posted about that topic previously, but I don't know that there is one solid definition that I could provide that would not generate debate. There's no right or wrong here. Just perspectives that I find fascinating to explore. 

The other day I suggested that a marginalized group naming someone as an ally to their community sounds like the highest honour that could possibly be bestowed upon an ally. I still agree with this. I was listening to a podcast yesterday (and again today) that made me think differently though. 

Nita Mosby Tyler suggested (in her TED talk) that an ally is someone who shows up and works to fight against injustices on behalf of communities who have different lived experiences. The talk is called 
What if white people led the charge to end racism? and I think that's a perfect example. She also talks about straight people getting in front of issues of homophobia. Men insisting on pay equity for women. Those are the unlikely allies, she says, who need to get to work on all the injustices that marginalize people. She said: "This is collective work and it requires everyone to be all in."

So here I am. Getting my act together. Getting my thoughts together. Finding my way as an educator with the desire to change the world for the better. I'm working it out within myself and then I will feel more equipped to find my place in all this and get some real work done. It's coming. That's why I'm here.