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When a white person says he/she is an advocate for people of color, I need to know: 1) Who are your closest friends, mentors, and advisors? Are they all or mostly white? 2) Do you have a track record of elevating voices of color and how far does it go back?
3) What experiences do you have of listening to POC, quelling your own voice, and making room for them? 4) Have you experienced critique from POC, and how have you handled those experiences--with humility or with defensiveness?
In other words, have you earned the right to call yourself an advocate for POC? Have you been in the trenches alongside us, have you proved your commitment through your work and relationships over the long haul? Or is this just a newfound fad in your life that you are promoting?
If you are new to being an advocate, then just say so. Say you're still learning. Be honest and humble about the reality. Don't try to position yourself as someone you are not or accept credit that you do not deserve.
If you are a true advocate, then you will have loads of POC to thank for educating you and helping you to learn and grow in this area. And you will be seeking to elevate those folks and giving them the credit for your own process of awakening. That is all.
