White supremacy is baked into our brains in very hidden and unconscious ways. Microaggressions are brief and commonplace moments of harm where racist assumptions–whether unconscious or not–come to the surface through language or behavior, creating indignity and pain for people of the global majority.
Embedded racist beliefs and assumptions include things like: “Asians are good at math and science.” or “Most Black people aren’t smart.” or “People who don’t look white are likely not born in this country.” Even if you don’t consciously believe these things, the unconscious nature of racialized assumptions runs very deep, and microaggressions are these sentiments coming to the surface.
Often, folks who are enacting microaggressions don’t even know they’ve done something offensive or hurtful; they may not even be aware of the racist assumptions that are implicated by the behavior or language.
Knowing how to respond to racial microaggressions is tough – whether they are directed at us, we make them, or we are witnessing them. The subtle, often unconscious nature of microaggressions are a challenge. Those on the receiving end of these statements often wonder – Did that really happen or am I being too sensitive? How do I speak up when I have so much to risk? Those who have committed a microaggression wonder: does it mean I’m racist if I said that? Those who witness and wish to help may think, how can I intervene without causing more harm?
Join Roxy for this introduction to the challenges of responding to microaggressions from the perspective of the person making them, the person watching them or the person experiencing them.
Learn skills to help you regain choice and effectiveness when responding to improve your chances of creating connection while attending to the needs of those most impacted. Our empathic but direct coaching will help create the shifts in awareness you’re seeking.
This event is a sneak-peek of Roxy’s new book, How to Have Antiracist Conversations: Embracing Our Full Humanity to Challenge White Supremacy.
