Becoming Allies

This week, Beki and Maria catch up on a book that Maria is currently reading called ‘Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race' by Reni Eddo-Lodge. In this episode, we discuss racism in the UK, using some of Reni's arguments for what she calls ‘the fear of a Black planet and Black Britain'. Reni discusses the discourse of a nation where some people are spending their time yearning for a nostalgic Britain... That never was. From Brexit to curry houses, from colonialism to Harry Potter, racism is alive and well in the UK, and we're here to talk about it. Unfortunately.

Anh Nguyen immigrated to the United States from Vietnam when she was four, and tells us about her upbringing in Houston and the sacrifices made, so that she and her siblings could have a better life. She also shares the story of Vincent Chin and others, along with the wedges that remain between Asian and Black communities in the U.S. From “the children of the dragon” to today's immigrants, we learn the importance of learning people's journeys--because they ultimately humanize us and our relationships. Episode shownotes: https://becomingallies.com/children-of-the-dragon/

Michael Kaye, Global Communications Manager at OKCupid and member of the steering committee for the Human Rights Campaign's Greater New York Chapter, joins us to talk about the growing number of people supporting social justice initiatives (4:18), how OKCupid has joined the Pride Month and Black Lives Matter narratives (10:25), what it's like working for a brand with core values of advocacy (22:02), how brands need to “put their money where their mouth is” (26:25) and how you can become a better ally (40:16). Michael also reminds us that while we have a lot to celebrate, there is much more to do (49:18). In his words: “Being an ally is a constant process. It doesn't end when a hashtag stops trending.” Full show notes: https://becomingallies.com/its-not-all-hashtags-and-rainbows/

Beki and Maria discuss the difference between Scandinavia and “Minnesota Nice.” (3:32) But more importantly, they talk about racially offensive phrases to consider dropping, including “urban” and “inner city” (5:38), and the importance of understanding others' viewpoints and experiences, so you can become a better ally (15:26). Go to https://becomingallies.com for article links and more.