By now, most of us are acquainted with the idea of—or know of people who may be—a social justice warrior (SJW). This term can be plainly defined as “A person who advocates for progressive orthodoxy, often on the internet…” In theory, being a social justice warrior should be a good thing. One would think that this person is supposed to be the one who advocates for the well-being of all, specifically those who are typically marginalized in society. They’re supposed to stand with those who face consistent adversity based on their identities. Right? That’s what it should be, but what is it really?

The term social justice warrior has been popularized in recent years. Before my sophomore year in college, I didn’t know this phrase existed. But over time, the term and the actions that accompanied it became more and more apparent. Though it remained nameless to me for years, I had seen the people who fit the description, as most of us have.

Some unleash virtual tirades on the social media posts of the unsuspecting, people who may not have even known they’d done wrong. Others patronize in classroom settings, going on about their extensive knowledge on civil rights and the oppressed. A lot of these people claim to “support” marginalized communities, but their efforts miss the mark. Their words come across as self-aggrandizing and exude a holier-than-thou attitude, as if their supposed care and concern for the marginalized makes them exceptionally better than anyone (everyone) else. These actions are just another—yet more discreet—form of elitism, and at the end of the day, who does it really benefit?

I haven’t seen any change come from a tirade in a Facebook comment. Shaming another student in class for their knowledge which you deem is inferior to your own does nothing. Being “woke” or feigning that you are doesn’t boost anyone’s platform but your own. If the goal is to even the playing field, these efforts are not the answer, but rather a perpetuation of the problem.

Marginalized people do not need to be spoken for. In speaking for us, you inherently assume that this task is one that we ourselves are incapable of, only adding to the problem that you claim to want to end. We possess the capability of speaking for ourselves, sharing our own truths and experiences, speaking on our own hurts and adversity as we deem necessary. We don’t need SJWs to broadcast our hardships and stories to the world in an attempt to make themselves appear like model citizens for forced and disingenuous concern.

What we need are allies, people with genuine intentions, people who really do want to see the betterment and success of those who have historically been forgotten. We need people to walk with us and beside us, not people who want a gold star for doing a “good thing.”

There are a lot of people who are well intentioned in their efforts, and there are a lot of people who aren’t. The difference is noticeable. The moral of intent is important, and sincerity isn’t a hard characteristic to spot, just as lack of authenticity isn’t.

To those who truly care, your actions are seen and your efforts are appreciated. To the rest, know where your intentions lie, because even if you can’t see it, we can.