Check Yourselves

The weekly sessions of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's, Food Not Bombs often provide food for thought. A discussion of a community defense page I am working on led to a discussion of how activists conduct themselves in communities, especially communities of color.

The ongoing protests against police violence have brought people from the suburbs, and other majority-white communities into the affected communities. They show up, raise their fists, wave signs and chant. Then they go back to their communities. What if people would go back to communities of color as tutors, coaches, help clean up the neighborhoods or repair houses?

Activists may want to see if they're welcome. An event might be for a specific community, or there may be a language barrier. A community may welcome support, but more in the background.

Movements like Black Lives Matter and DREAMers are examples of communities organizing on their own. The question an activist from outside the community may be "How can I help", instead of saying, "I'm here to help"