RACIAL MICROAGGRESSIONS

Theme Microaggression Message Alien in own land Asking an Asian co-worker, You are not American. When Asian Americans and Latino “Where are from? No, where are Americans are assumed to be you really from?” foreign-born. Telling an American born Latino student she speaks such good English. Ascription of intelligence A school counselor reacts with All Asians are smart and Assigning a degree of intelligence surprise when an Asian American good at math. to a Person of Color on the basis student had trouble on the math of their race. portion of a standardized test.

A career counselor asking a Black It is unusual for People of or Latino student, “Do you think Color to succeed. you’re ready for college?” Color blindness When a staff member of color Race and culture are not Statements which indicate that a attempts to discuss being the only important variables that affect person does not want to Person of Color at her job and people’s lives. acknowledge race. feeling alienated and dismissed

by her co-workers, another staff

member says, “I think you are

being too paranoid. We should

emphasize similarities, not

people’s differences.”

When a student complains that a Your racial experiences are teacher is racist another teacher not valid. replies, “We don’t see color here at MLK High School. He was probably just having a bad day.” Criminality/assumption of Black students in a school are You are a criminal. criminal status consistently asked for hall passes A Person of Color is presumed to while their White peers are not. be dangerous, criminal, or deviant on the basis of their race. Denial of individual racism A parent of color asks an Your racial/ethnic experience A statement made when administrator how race affects his is not important. Whites renounce their racial or her view of students. The biases. administrator replies, “Race does

not affect the way I treat students.

I treat all students the same.”

A student of color brings up Your racial oppression is no racism with a female teacher. She different than my gender replies, “I totally understand. As a oppression. woman, I face discrimination too.” Theme Microaggression Message Myth of meritocracy A school counselor tells a Black People of color are lazy Statements which assert that race student, “If you work hard, you and/or incompetent and need does not play a role in succeeding can succeed like everyone else.” to work harder. in career advancement or When test results show a racial If you don’t succeed, you education. achievement gap, a school only have only yourself to blame focuses on ways to motivate (blaming the victim). students of color to work harder to close the gap.

Copyright © 2007 by the American Psychological Association. Adapted with permission. Sue, D.W., Capodilupo, C.M., Torino, G.C., Bucceri, J., Holder, A.M.B., Nadal, K.L., Esquilin, M., Racial Microagressions in Everyday Life: Implications for Clinical Practice. American Psychologist. 2007 vol.62, No. 4

Cross Cultural Connections, LLC www.culturesconnecting.com RACIAL MICROAGGRESSIONS

Pathologizing cultural values/ A Black student is loud, Assimilate to dominant communication styles emotional, and confrontational in culture. class. The teacher refers her to The notion that the values and communication styles of the special education for a behavior dominant/White culture are ideal. disorder. A student of Asian or Native Leave your cultural baggage American descent has trouble outside. maintaining eye contact with his teacher. The teacher assumes he is being defiant.

Second-class citizen White students get called on more Whites are more valued than Occurs when a White person is often in class when students of People of Color. color have their hands raised as given preferential treatment as a often. consumer over a Person of Color. A White person is served first by White families are more the office staff when a Person of valued than families of color. Color arrives before them.

Environmental A school website features only You don’t belong/Only White microaggressions pictures of White historical people can succeed. Visible microaggressions, which figures. are more apparent on a systemic White people are the protagonists level. You are an outsider/You don’t of all of the required reading in a exist. classroom.

Cross Cultural Connections, LLC www.culturesconnecting.com