Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggressions are indignities that are verbal, behavioral or environmental and may or may not be intentionally communicated to women, people or color, gay/lesbians with insulting message behind them.

I remember being on an elevator in a court house.  On this elevator was myself, two other black women and two white men.  As the elevator stopped and opened, the two white men excited.  As the door finally closed, I and the other tow black women remained on the elevator.  One of the woman said, "I guess all the lawyers left the elevator," than she begin to laugh.  Then the other black woman said, "no, I'm still on the elevator."  Although I did not know neither women, I was quite embarrassed.  I'm sure the black attorney was insulted by the hidden message of white men in a court house can only be lawyers.  Whether the message was intentional or unintentional, the other black women message was very sterotypic of believing the white men as attorneys and not the black woman. 

I have learned that some point everyone may indulge in Microaggressions behavioral.  However, we must learn to interact and share our differences without judging others. 

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Microagrations [DVD].Perspectives on diversity and equity. Baltimore, MD: Author.