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How Spirituality Helps Allyship
DISCLAIMER:
Before I go in, this is for other uncertain white folks. I’m not about to tell black people and other communities of color what they should be doing, or how they should be protesting, or how MLK III should be interpreting MLK Jr.’s words—those are their decisions to make. Safe to say the III knows Jr. better than literally any other person on this planet. But for the uncertain whites, we’re getting a lot of info right now and this piece is written purely to offer a few suggestions on how to become a more integrated, conscious member of a radically unequal society. Who am I? A mystic making advocacy films. I’m always learning but I’m not starting at square one. I’m at least at square 1.3. And I’m thankful for my black, white and other non-white activist collaborators who helped strengthen this piece.
There’s a trend emerging across current takes on social — that spirituality is privileged, and that despite its importance for well-being, it’s reserved for comfortable cushions, not community organizing or social justice. I’m all for self-awareness. Analyzing one’s own practice in the grander societal picture is extremely useful and I honor that, but I disagree with this premise.
