There Is No Room For Conditions In Your Allyship
Looking at the response to significant events through the lens of conditional allyship
Published by Our Words Literary Magazine
Each year, Dictionary.com selects a word that sums up the year. Previous recent winners have included pandemic, misinformation and identity, which all very succinctly describe distinct aspects of the state of the world and our lives. In 2021, the word “allyship” was not only chosen as the Word of the Year but was the first word to win the accolade that was only added to the dictionary in that year. What made that word so critical in our lexicon in the space of one year?
After the murder of George Floyd on 25th May 2020, in the US, the word “allyship” really came into popular usage. The murder of a Black man on video, coupled with the unease and fragility of our lives at the time due to the pandemic, led the public reaction to be what it should always be when faced with actions like this: disgust and anger. Protest marches of people, irrespective of their backgrounds, lined the streets of cities. Racial inequality was at the forefront of everything. Petitions were signed, money was donated, rallies were organised, and social media was leading the charge as the primary channel where people could send the powerful message that we stand united against racism.
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Only they didn't get it right.
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