The most recent experience with
microaggression I witnessed was actually in a classroom last week. As two
African American teachers were talking they were approached by a teacher of
Korean descent. The teacher asked if either of the two ladies wanted a cream
cheese bagel. The African American
teachers directed her to inquire if whether the teacher across the hall, who
happens to be Caucasian, wanted it because that is the kind of stuff ‘they’
eat. It was clear that the two women were not just speaking of the other
teacher as an individual because of the fact that the teacher was referenced to
as ‘they’ although she is only one person. What I thought when I witnessed the microaggression was that people honestly don't realize how discriminatory they can be at times. I honestly know that there are some people who automatically think African Americans are going to bring 'chicken' to a pot luck dinner as though chicken is the ONLY food African American people eat. In that case it would be an insult because I know African Americans who don't eat chicken at all. However, there are some people who automatically think African Americans will bring 'chicken' because its a common food among them....see the difference in assuming they will bring it because that's all they eat and bringing it because it's something they enjoy eating a lot? Well, I thought what the two African Americans meant was that cream cheese bagels was something more commonly eaten by Caucasians because certain foods are not eaten in certain cultures. My observation experience taught me to simply be more careful about the things I say to and about people because even things said unintentionally have the potential to be very harmful to others
Towanda you are right in this week’s readings I am really sold out, I did not realize how little things we say, people will take in another way. We all should be mindful of what we say respect others cultures. People say black people like chicken and will bring it to gatherings, I have a co-worker who does not eat chicken I was really surprise.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to observe how our cultures affect other people. Your examples of stereotypes are ones I have observed as well. It is interesting that it was something as simple as an act of sharing that caused a microaggression. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience many people do not have any idea that they are being discriminatory. Many people just make comments that they do not realize are offensive. I think that it is great that you are monitoring what you say before you say it. I think that the world would be abetter place if more people did the same.
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