Microaggressions (Sumblog 5)

During class we discussed microaggressions. Microaggressions are small acts of mostly non-physical discrimination. For the most part, many people may be unaware that they are even doing it. We received a handout in class that made me curious on the different types of microaggressions that exist in our everyday lives. Here is a list that I put together based on what the hand out said and what I have noticed:

• When a White person (man and women) passes a Black man on the sidewalk, the woman automatically clutches her purse more tightly, while the White man checks for his wallet in the back pocket. (Hidden Message: Blacks are prone to crime and up to no good.)
• A third generation Asian American is complimented by a person for speaking such good English. (Hidden Message: Asian Americans are perceived as perpetual aliens in their own country and not "real Americans.")
• Police stop a Latino male driver for no apparent reason but to subtly check his driver's license to determine immigration status. (Hidden message: Latinos are illegal aliens.)
• American Indian students at the University of Illinois see Native American symbols and mascots - exemplified by Chief Illiniwek dancing and whooping fiercely during football games. (Hidden Message: American Indians are savages, blood-thirsty and their culture and traditions are demeaned.)

Racial microaggressions are the brief and everyday slights, insults, and demeaning messages sent to people of color by well-intentioned White people who are usually unaware of the hidden messages being communicated. Like it is shown in these examples, these messages may be sent verbally ("You speak good English."), nonverbally (clutching one's purse more tightly) or environmentally (using American Indian mascots). These all tend to happen outside of a person’s conscious awareness. If an individual who made these microaggressions realized the effects, my belief is that that would apologize and change their actions.