Catherine Pugh, Esq. pretty much dismantles the concept of the White Ally. If you’ve been doing any kind of antiracist work—be it in the world or just starting to come to terms with yourself—I don’t think this actually is as bruising as Pugh and others suggest it is. You should be ready for it. I’m only tossing a short quote here because the piece deserves to be read whole, both for its function and its form.

This is not about nomenclature. This is not about contribution. This is not about your heart, or your hard work, or your good deeds. This is about — and only about — the damage behind defining as “help” a thing that is your duty. Because racism is not mine, it is yours. What you do is not called “help” when it is your mess we are cleaning.