Saturday, June 1, 2013
PRACTICING AWARENESS OF MICROAGGRESSION
As an African-American woman, I’ve always had to prove myself as an educated person. I learn that people still judge you on their own biases and stereotypes. First I was judged for being from the South when I would go visit cousins from the northern states, they would say comments jokingly, but it wasn’t funny to me. A most recent example of microaggression is in my current profession. I’m a Teacher for an early childhood program Head Start where I’m surrounded with colleagues of the dominant culture. Our program serves a variety of families, but the majority is African-American families. I was developing a newsletter on summer safety for children where I was addressing the need for sunscreen outsides. As the program director at the time was a Caucasian woman reviewed the newsletter she comments, “Black people do not use sunscreen.” As African American woman, I was appalled! I immediately corrected her in an intelligent and proper matter. She felt assume and embarrassed, and I felt disrespected and offended. I looked at her differently for that point. This experience taught me that many people are judged on their own biases and stereotypes. I’ve vowed to treat everyone the same regardless of whom they were.
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Antowah,I recently had a similar experience. I coach high school track and we recently had our state track meet. I live in Nebraska and up until that weekend it was pretty cold, however, this past weekend it was really warm. I got sunburned on my shoulder and neck and so many of my co-workers were surprise when I told them I was sunburned.I do want to encourage you to keep providing information. Sometimes that's the only way to challenge the thinking of others. Knowledge is power and saying something offensive can sometimes come from the lack of knowledge. Once knowledge is given it is up to that person what they choose to believe.
ReplyDeleteHi Antowah,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. I live in North Carolina and when I visit family in Connecticut I get the same types of "down south, you're country" comments from some members in the family. They have no idea that they are sterotyping. The unaware and unintentional microaggressions create the greatest difficulties in society (Laureate Education, 2011). I have had the sunscreen talk with my assistant who is white who assummed that black people would have no use for sunscreen when we go in the sun. I had to explain to her that our skin burn just as hers if we are exposed to the sun. It so good to address the issue and share information.