Thursday, January 28, 2021
Ever heard expressions like “Your English is so good” or “I don’t think of you as Black”? Or "You have the perfect Radio Face?"
Welcome to the world of microaggressions. Today’s Daily Dose is all about these ever-present, pesky splinters of hostility. Read on to learn what to do if you or someone you know is experiencing these stigmatizing slights and how to put a stop to them once and for all.
Crystal Rose and Nick Fouriezos
defining the problem
1. Under the Microscope
The term “microaggression” was originally coined in the 1970s by Chester M. Pierce, a Harvard professor who first identified this type of frequent and negative — albeit unintentional, due to unconscious bias — behavior toward someone of a marginalized group. He wrote: “These [racial] assaults to Black dignity and Black hope are incessant and cumulative. Any single one may be gross. In fact, the major vehicle for racism in this country is offenses done to Blacks by whites in this sort of gratuitous never-ending way.”
2. Adding Up
Studies show that microaggressions are far more dangerous than many realize. The seemingly innocuous and sometimes unnoticed slights come at a high cost to our mental, physical and emotional health. In fact, we’re discovering that for people of color, it causes real trauma. People fed a regular diet of microaggressions display signs of depression, lack of confidence, failure to thrive, anger, helplessness and even hopelessness. We have known for a while these can lead to suicidal ideation. Psychologists like Derald Wing Sue at Columbia University are working to raise awareness about the harm done by microaggressions.
3. Is This Racist?
This behavior isn’t straight-up racism. Microaggressions constitute off-the-cuff quips and conduct that make someone feel discouraged or like an outsider for any number of traits, not just race. While the type of interactions that constitute microaggressions are not demonstrations of outright white supremacy, privilege — and especially white privilege — plays a role. They are often outside of a person’s understanding, committed without clear intention and sometimes even disguised as a compliment — as in, “Your English is so good,” said to someone whose first language is not English.
4. Consider Your Surroundings
Because microaggressions are often committed without the perpetrator being truly aware of their offenses, a lack of diversity (be it LGBTQ+, women, people of color or any marginalized group) contributes to these hurtful scenarios. That means spaces like the tech sector, which has long been accused of tolerating a “bro culture” and a lack of Black people, are an especially fertile breeding ground for this behavior. In spaces where diversity is minimal and toxic masculinity is rife, it can still be fashionable to say “That’s so gay” — a time-honored microaggression.
In micro-space on the net, The Three Amigos is often regarded as a disbanded gang of Elite Internet Trolls whose sole purpose is to comment, hide and repeat.
Yibs failed to attend the Meetings and preferred Internet Hot Rod Gaming.
Tello and smee call that "Doing a Yibs"
Righteous diss. No surprises anymore.
Sorry.
NOT!
