Allyship, Antiracism and the Strength of Weak Ties: A Barber, a Professor and an Entrepreneur Walk Into a Room

Abstract

COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter are urgent challenges that are knocking on the health promotion profession’s door. The obvious tactic for those who aspire to be trusted allies is to answer. This editorial defines health promotion allyship as a continuous process where those who are part of in groups, such as white males, seek to build trust with, and provide visible advocacy for, out groups such as Black people. We will know we are effective allies only when we are recognized as such by out groups. The public health anti-racism movement started by Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones is summarized along with the introduction of a framework that can serve as a call to action for the health promotion profession. The exemplary allyship that occurred at an event later coined as The Lincoln Cottage Assembly is also described.