Your article, first of all, was wonderfully written and respectfully executed. Second, the White individual’s definition of an ally reminds me of what a White co-worker once told me when I brought up the idea of reparations for Blacks in the US. My co-worker said that the idea of reparations makes it seem like someone is taking something away from White people. The White man’s definition of an ally screams, “I will help you, just so long as I don’t lose what I have.”

Many White individuals are comfortable with their privileges, which is understandable. To be a true ally means sacrificing many or all privileges. Who’d want to part with that? Would an average over-consuming American be willing to cut their caloric intake in half so that a starving family in a developing country would have enough food to sustain them annually? It truly takes a moral — well, that depends on what “morals” are anymore — individual to empathize with others and be a true ally/humanitarian/decent human being.

Once again, I applaud you and this article, as well as your response to that White man highlighted. Since you’ve come to the conclusion that true allies are rare, maybe the best thing Black people can do is work to better themselves while educating other groups whenever necessary. Also, Black people must find allies within the African diaspora as well — we all know how messy the “Black community” is from generational trauma.