Practicing Awareness of Microaggression

Taking a Second to Think

Before this class I was unaware of microaggression. I was aware of the things that were occurring, but I had no idea that it was a term for it. The microaggression that I detected this week was micro insult. Micro- insult is a form of microaggression that demeans a person's racial heritage or identity. 

Micro-insult is something that I see all the time. A lot of times the comments made are made unknowingly. During this particular time, I was sitting at a table for a wedding reception. At the table someone made a comment to me about who I was sitting with. They said, "you must don't like to sit and talk to your kind because you are always talking to them, (them meaning white people). I had not noticed that almost everyone at my table was white. To me that was unsetting because I can choose to sit where I please and talk to whomever I please. I purposely sat by the individuals I worked closely with because we had a lot in common. In that moment I began to see how the other staff members viewed me. It is sad to think that we are only allowed to associate with those of our own race. 

This week alone has open my eyes more. Something that I have done were unwillingly, but the problem is that they were done. I can now find myself watching what I say even closer because I do not want someone to feel less of on individual because of a comment that came out of my mouth.