How Retroactive Allyship Theater shows up:
- Expressing support or agreement after the fact
- Offering condolences or sympathy after the fact
- Giving praise after the fact
- Sharing personal stories afterwards
- Providing criticism or feedback afterward, instead of when it would have made a difference
- Indicating regrets for not doing or saying something
How to Combat Retroactive Allyship Theater:
- Be aware of when you’re engaging in this
- Recognize why you’re not speaking up
- Take tentative steps to buy time
- Find opportunities to take corrective actions
- Reflect on what you would do next time
Extroversion & Speaking Up
“So many of our strategies for fighting injustice are geared towards extroverts, people who are naturally more comfortable speaking up. For those who are quieter and who need time to reflect, it can be more challenging to push back in the moment when we see or hear problematic things, or when someone needs support.”