Microaggressive America

“Where are you from? No, like where are you from from?” “What are you?” “Wow, your English is really good.” These seemingly innocuous comments are all forms of microaggressions that people hear on a daily basis. The term, coined by Chester Pierce in 1970, has made a huge comeback in discussions of racism. Microaggressions don’t exclusively affect racial minorities; they impact marginalized groups of any kind.

It’s important to know that these acts and comments are harmful despite their intent. Someone who is unaware of the impact of their words may even think they’re being kind, or that they are relating to the person. Arbitrarily saying something like, “ I love ‘Aladdin’,” to a person of Arab descent, is just perpetuating stereotypes about a particular race.

Although microaggressions may seem subtle, they contribute to the systemic prejudice and racism of marginalized groups. To many, the microaggression appears to be insignificant, an insensitive comment that isn’t fueled by hate. The danger with microaggressions is not the isolated incident, but the effect they have when they’re combined with an oppressive system. Microaggressions occur to many people every single day and help establish stereotypes and prejudicial thinking at a systemic level.

Look closely at a microaggressive comment and you will see the negative impact it creates for a racial minority. For example, saying, “ Wow, you’re very articulate” to a person of color is a microaggression. At surface level it appears to be a compliment; however, this isn’t the case. Expressing how a person of color “speaks well” contributes to the stereotype that black people aren’t adept at English grammar and that the person receiving that compliment is the exception. Comments like this also perpetuate the stereotype that black people are less intelligent than white people. Most people wouldn’t give the same compliment to a white person.

The word may include the term “micro,” referencing the briefness of the interaction, but not every microaggression is subtle or unintentional. Many do not have the intent to insult or harm but, regardless of the comment’s intent, the impact is often harmful. Telling a person who is hurt by a microaggression, as well, that it’s “just a joke” does not lessen the impact of it for that person.

Be open to learning. It is normal to have biases, but it’s vital we are all more aware of how our biases impact others. Working against discrimination in all forms creates a more inclusive environment for everyone.