what my fellow professional artists can do to help poc and women

pollums:

(EDIT: it’s been brought to my attention by 30knight that i should be including trans people! Do not forget trans women, trans poc, as well as nonbinary trans people and trans men. Trans people as a whole are too often excluded from these conversations and we as a community need to stop pretending like they don’t exist.)

1. If you like someone’s work and they’re not a white man? FUCKING TELL THEM. Message them, email them, commission them. Tell them WHY you like their art. In detail. It’s messed up, but your opinion as a pro means much more than that of an amateur. You could change someone’s life by just telling them that their work is professional quality.
2. Look at your favorite artists. Look at the last 3 artists you’ve collaborated with. Are they white men? If they are, CHANGE THAT NOW. No excuses.
3. If you get a budget for a project with some elbow room? Need someone for colors? Inks? Extra animation? Writing? HIRE A POC/WOMAN TO COLLABORATE WITH. PAY THEM.
4. If someone suggests a white man to work with, suggest a PoC/woman to work with instead.
5. When you collaborate with a woman/poc, TRUST THEM WITH CREATIVE DECISIONS. NO MORE CONFINING THEM TO ASSISTANT WORK. I think assistant work is extremely valuable for people to learn and gain confidence, but at a certain point? Your lack of trust and confidence is going to reflect on the person you’re collaborating with. They KNOW you don’t think they can do it, and let’s face it, you’re wrong. They can.
6. If you commission a woman/poc, tip them. Generously. Show them they can ALWAYS value their work more.
7. If you’re teaching, STOP giving women/poc your ‘tough love helpful art critiques’. Seriously. I know this is going to be difficult for some people to swallow, but what you learned in art school, the techniques, the sensibilities, the taste: it was all created by white men, and however valuable you think they are, these are values that have historically kept women and poc out of the field. They are basically tried and proven techniques to keep poc/women out of our field. Honestly even if it helps them in the short term, it hurts them in the long term. The ‘eternal student’ mindset is not something we need more of in underprivileged artists.
8. Refer women/poc for jobs. Stop referring white men for jobs. White men can stand still with their whole fist in their ass and people will throw them job offers. STOP IT.
9. If you are a woman/poc, STOP SAYING BAD THINGS ABOUT YOUR OWN ART. I know it’s hard, and I know you’ve been taught modesty is important all your life, and I know you GENUINELY believe your art is bad, but seriously. Stop. It’s not cute anymore. There are people looking up to you, and you are setting an example for them. You are teaching them their work is less valuable because of how you treat your own.
10. Help build their confidence, help build their confidence, help build their confidence. HELP BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE
11. Remember that you can’t passively fight racism/sexism. If you stand still, you are part of the problem. You need to constantly challenge your assumptions and WORK to make things better.

I don’t reblog much stuff here but this post is mad important. As a female, artist of colour, and a friend of a lot of artists that fit into these categories, I see so many mediocre white guys getting jobs over SUPER talented trans ppl/poc/women and it’s something a lot of you can help, even in the smallest of ways.