Conceptualizing White Allyship among Undergraduate Students in the United States

Colonialism in the U.S. has embedded anti-Blackness in social institutions, including but not limited to those of higher education. Preliminary research indicates that white allyship, or white people’s efforts to dismantle racism by advocating for and partnering with People of Color, is protective and beneficial to Black communities. However, little work has sought to clarify conceptualizations of white allyship–especially comparing the perspectives of Black and white students. To address this, the present study recruited 24 undergraduate students (12 Black, 12 white) to participate in semi-structured interviews focused on white allyship. Data were systematically transcribed, then coded using thematic analysis. Results indicated that Black and white students have somewhat similar understandings of allyship spanning from emotional support to actively resisting oppression; however, Black students generally conceptualized ally behaviors as involving more risk-taking. These data lend support to what Black Activists have been urging for years: emotional support and self-education are important ally behaviors, yet combating anti-Blackness also involves disrupting the systems that perpetuate it. Findings have implications for vested partners in education, institutions, and researchers.