I am a white, privileged student at Princeton High School, but I am also an ally and supporter of Black Lives Matter. This movement and even just the phrase “black lives matter” holds so much depth; it carries the weight of centuries of systemic oppression and racism that black people have faced in the so-called “land of the free,” not only from fellow Americans but from the ones who are meant to protect and serve. Police brutality has been a long-lasting issue within the black community in the United States and it has been both exciting and terrifying to see how recent events have played out. It has been a constant uphill battle for those involved, but it is a necessary fight. I have lived a sheltered life; for about 13 years of it, I had believed that liberty and justice existed for everyone in the United States merely because it said so in the pledge of allegiance. I have learned since then that it’s not true, which is why I became an ally. Being an ally doesn’t mean speaking on behalf of those that are struggling; it only silences them more and perpetuates the idea that they are to be used as props, further enforcing the white savior complex. To be an ally, you must project the voices of those who have been silenced. In this case, that means listening to and amplifying black voices so that you can learn how to be a part of the solution rather than contribute to the problem. We as a whole must do better at combating racism at every level, but it starts with an individual. Take the time to listen to BIPOC voices so that you can learn to do so and be a true ally. 

by Emily Beatty