Ellen Pompeo's message for white allies

via etcanada

A clip from a Porter Magazine interview with Ellen Pompeo has gone viral. Pompeo, along with Gabrielle Union, Gina Rodriguez and Emma Roberts came together to discuss female representation on the small screen for Porter’s “Women in Television” issue. In the clip, Pompeo thanks Porter and the staff for being there today, but calls out the contradiction between their discussion topic and Porter’s work environment during the shoot.

Watch below (start at 0:25):

*STANDS UP FROM CHAIR*

*SLOW CLAPS*

Gabrielle Union’s face is EVRYONE’S FACE after watching this clip. Ellen is THE PERFECT example of speaking and acting out what you preach. Thank you Ellen for being the example of what a white ally truly is. She used her privledge of being a white American actress and the platform of that interview to call out those who continue the exclusive pattern. She said this TO THEIR FACE. A QUEEN.

via youtube

Debra Messing is another example. Remember when she called out E! while INTERVIEWING WITH THEM ON LIVE TV about the unfair pay between female host Catt Sadler and male host Jason Kennedy. This is what we mean when we say use your (white) privilege. Privilege, whether strived for or not, places you in a position others cannot reach alone. It grants the opportunity to lift up others or continue to be complicit as they struggle unheard, down below.

You really want to be our allies? Then act like it. And not just on social media. Don’t just post on Instagram about your criminal charges. Be our allies and kneel WITH us when we peacefully protest police brutality. Speak out when we demand equal pay beyond men and women, but for specific racial groups like black women and Latinas. Stand with us and not above us when we are strong enough to share our #metoo experiences.

We need more women like Ellen and Debra (I know there are more out there). Women who confront issues head on, no matter how uncomfortable it makes the situation or their peers. We need support in the workplace, public environments, safe spaces, online and IRL. Women of color and People of color have continuously spoken out about need for diversity. But if the same people are speaking against it, it will continue on deaf ears until we come together.