Yesterday, on June 1, my friend Jonathan England passed away suddenly. This was heartbreaking news. A native of Prince George’s County, Jonathan was a devoted family man; a lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies for the African-American Studies Department at the University of Maryland; and an ardent supporter of minority groups, working resolutely to dismantle systemic racism through education. He spent years teaching young adults about slavery, civil rights, race relations, racial disparities, public policy, and many other topics that define the experience of African-Americans in the U.S. now and throughout history.
If you didn’t already know Jonathan, I’m going to tell you something that may surprise you: Jonathan was white.
This is what being an anti-racist ally looks like – acknowledging one’s white privilege and using it for good. Jonathan did the work to listen, to learn, to advocate, and to teach. He went far beyond a social media post, a hashtag, or a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote. He lived his alliance every day and in everything he did. He created a safe environment for black students to express themselves and share their experiences. He encouraged non-black students to have uncomfortable conversations about racism, to confront their own biases, and to learn from the discomfort. He called out bias, covert racism, and privilege gently but firmly when engaging with others in the community. He gave his time and his voice to other organizations and communities who wanted to learn from him. He mentored. He engaged. He influenced. That was his form of activism.
Losing Jonathan is all the more painful because America needs his activism now more than ever.
One of Jonathan’s last tweets before his death said this: “Systemic change requires acknowledgement that the system does not work. Which requires acknowledgement that the system was never designed to work for all. When those who benefit have that moment of honesty perhaps things can begin to change.” This is the summation of why anti-racist allies are so important and how Jonathan modeled that for everyone – he recognized his privilege, used it to influence change, and encouraged others to do the same.
Rest in power, Jonathan. May we all live up to the example that you set.
Click here for a comprehensive list of resources on anti-racism for both adults and children.