Microaggresions? What in the world does that mean? Microaggressions are “brief everyday indignities that are verbal, behaviors, or environmental.” They can be “intentionally or unintentionally communicated to women, people of color, to gay/lesbians that have an insulting message behind them that often times causes sever psychological distress and harm” (Laureate, 2011).
Among these microagressions lay branches of other aggressions that target disabilities/abilities, sexual orientation, gender, and racial microaggressions. Within the racial aspect of microaggressions are three more forms of microaggressions:
- MicroAssult: this is a “blatant, hostile act, intended to hurt the person on a conscious level” (Laureate, 2011).
- MicroInsults: these insults demean a person’s racial heritage by suggesting they aren’t smart enough and that they are “intellectually inferior” (Laureate, 2011).
- MicroValidations: this is sad to be the worst of them all. This invalidates your experiential reality” (Laureate, 2011). This happens on a day-to-day basis.
It has been proven that history repeats itself. Have you seen the news? The killings of George Floyd, Alton Sterling, Michael Brown, Kendra James, and many more, didn’t just start within the last few years. Blacks, women, and immigrants, have been dealing with racism, segregation, and various form of microagressions for centuries. Just this week, “George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died Monday when a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes after he was detained” (Reyes, 2020). And his death seemed to have broke the camel’s back.
So what do we do? Do we continue to let these microaggressions and microassaults, and allow it to get as far as it did with George Floyd? Paige Fernandez, policing policy adviser for the American Civil Liberties Union told USA Today, “‘I’m hesitant to say anybody should step in, because I don’t want people’s lives to be risked, but I do think there is a role, especially for white allies. If they see an incident of police brutality happening, I think they absolutely have to step in and say something, just because officers often interpret black and brown people as threats for absolutely no reason, other than deep-seated racism'” (Reyes, 2020).
There’s so much that’s going on in my head. So many questions, concerns, and fears. Everything I’ve observed and read about George Floyd solidified my perceptions on discrimination, prejudices, and stereotyping people of color. So many emotions fill my body but I have to remember who I represent – God. Being a black mother of two boys, the “talk” of re-education my children on respecting police enforcement as well as knowing their rights and remember their history is almost contradictory. African Americans are and will always be faced and placed within the “Catch-22” parameters of society.
As a parent and professional, it’s hard knowing that my children and the children I come in contact with, do not fully understand the depth of what’s going on around them. We have to be intentional and responsible in teaching them to be aware of the mircoaggressions that are expressed, verbally or non-verbally, is not acceptable, no matter who or where it comes from. Education is KEY.
Resources:
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Leger, J. (2020). Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Organizes Peaceful Protest in Wake of George Floyd’s Death. Retrieved from https://www.nbcboston.com/news/sports/celtics-jaylen-brown-organizes-peaceful-protest-in-wake-of-george-floyds-death/2134120/
Reyes, L. (2020). USA Today, Bear witness, record, de-escalate: How race may affect what bystanders are called to do in cases like George Floyd’s. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/05/29/george-floyd-what-bystanders-can-do-diffuse-racial-discrimination/5278808002/
Bridging the Gap in Early Childhood Education 
When I heard the story about George Floyd. It made me think about my father, uncle, cousins, brothers who are all black men trying to survive in the crazy world that we live in today. There are no words to solve the hurt and pain of his family all we can do is continue to pray for them and their strength. As teachers and parents, we must work together to improve the generation to generation. People don’t understand how important this is until it is one of their family members.
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But how can we “work together to improve the generation to generation” if there’s someone other than of our own “culture” controlling what we say and do. How do we hold on to what’s left of our identity and still protect the young minds of tomorrow?
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We can keep our head up and try to show them a new way but it would be up to them to decide on which way they want to go
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Yes, you’re correct. A positive outlook on social change in the classroom is a great outlook.
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Allison,
Watching my television this weekend gave me the impression that history is repeating itself. I never would have imagined that I would one day be viewing actual scenes from my history book. I feel horrible about the innocent death of George Floyd and other innocent people. It does not change my mindset to protest peacefully against injustice. I disagree with the rioting, looting, vandalism, or arson that took place in Downtown Atlanta. I often wonder “Who will give our children of color the opportunity to become leaders that will come against injustice?” With these perceptions and negative behaviors, people of color have a lesser chance of being leaders of our country.
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You bring a valid point. Non-violence speak volumes to those that are treating African Americans poorly. But in the heat of passion, non-violence is not something anyone wants to hear. We have to be consciously aware of how we set the tone and pace for the next generation of Americans. Is this the example we want to set for them? If so, wouldn’t this just repeat itself again when they are older?
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I love the layout out your blog! This course has taken a toll on me because of all that is going on in the world. I agree with you that the death of George Floyd is what broke the camel’s back. It is hard to be black in America and the fact that we are constantly looked at as a threat is ridiculous. I cannot say much without getting emotional right now but you did a nice job writing this post.
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It took a lot for me not to get emotional too. If you cry, I’ll cry.. we’ll cry together. We need to also be strong for each other.
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