5 Ways to Be A Better Ally to BIPOC

We saw the rise of a powerful civil rights movement in the summer of 2020.

Black Lives Matter protests and marches inspired by George Floyd broke out across the country. There was a call for allies to step up and people responded in various ways. Educational posts from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) were shared on Instagram. Informative TikToks about oppression and the history of racism went viral. Celebrities like Lili Reinhart used their platforms to speak to prominent activists in the Black community and discussed issues regarding racism and discrimination. Thousands of people took to the street to join the marches.

It is time to bring back that energy and excitement. The most important part of being an ally is consistency. Here are some ways you can be a better ally right now.

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Educate Yourself

The first step to becoming a better ally is to educate yourself on what it means to be an ally. Reading this article is a great first step! Starting here means you are looking for ways to support marginalized people. It would help if you also educated yourself about issues regarding race. You can look up books or articles written by BIPOC to understand the problems they are facing and how you can help. And it's not a problem if you don't like non-fiction books! You can learn a lot from fiction, too.  HERE is a list of six powerful fiction books written by Black authors. and  We have also linked an HERE's an anti-racism guide from Emory University,  including a number of informative articles, books and videos.

Volunteer

Volunteering is one of the most direct and impactful ways to support minority groups. Volunteer Match will connect you to local organizations. You can narrow the search results by choosing a specific cause related to BIPOC like race and ethnicity, advocacy and human rights, justice and legal or immigrants and refugees. You can also select a virtual volunteering option, a safe way to volunteer during the pandemic. And you can still help organizations even if you do not have time to volunteer! You can always donate to aid in their fight for justice. There are many incredible organizations, including Color of Change, The Loveland Foundation, Brown Girl Therapy and Native Wellness Institute.

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Diversify Your Feed

A simple way you can support BIPOC right now is to diversify your feed and follow new creators. Who knew that our obsession with TikTok could actually be a good thing? The TikTok algorithm shows you videos based on who you follow and what content you like. When you choose to follow Black, Indigenous and People of Color on TikTok, you see more of their videos on your For You Page. Amplifying accounts from BIPOC helps them receive credit and opportunities. It's also important to diversify your feed so you receive information about BIPOC directly from them. You will have a deeper understanding of the issues if you listen to the people who face them. Here is a list of amazing Black TikTok creators to get you started.

Stay Updated on Current Issues

Being a good ally means you are on top of the news. You can't help BIPOC unless you know which policies and legislation are impacting them, such as voter suppression. Don't worry! You don't have to steal the morning newspaper from your parents or watch hours of news to stay updated on current issues. You can follow news accounts on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Every major news organization has social media accounts. There are even accounts like "Now This News," which break down the news into easily understandable social media content. It is a simple way to stay updated on the news while scrolling through social media. It's also critical to double-check the accuracy of any stories before you share them. Always check the source of information and compare it to other news organizations. You can also use Fact Check if you're unsure about a news story.

Listen More

We need to speak less and listen more to marginalized voices. When we hear about racism and oppression, we often like to add our own opinions and experiences. This makes you the focus of the conversation instead of the marginalized person. Black, Indigenous and People of Color don't need us to talk over them or lead. They need us to listen and learn. Being an ally isn't easy. You will make mistakes and that's okay. We don't need to be perfect. We just need to hear the voices that have been silenced for too long and do our best to amplify and support.

Looking for more ways to support the Black community? Check out these five Black-Owned Beauty Brands that you can support right now.