I experienced racial micro aggression from another time in my life even though the act was not directed toward me. I was in a store that was owned by a Chinese Family. I didn't go to the store often but whenever my mother wanted to make a club sandwich she would send me to get cold cuts from the Chinese store. This particular day I was at the counter being checked out and a young black man entered the store. He stood to the side and just looked. The Chinese man stopped ringing my cold cuts up and starting talking to the young man. You don't want anything get out of my store. You people always want something for nothing. I was so shocked at what I had heard. It was an insult to me but I did not respond negatively because my mother had taught me how to react to certain situations when I was five years old.
In my mind I knew that I would not be visiting his store again because I too am African American. After I existed the store the young man asked me what was wrong and had he done anything to justify what had occurred at the store with him. He stated I only wanted to get a pack of cigarettes which was behind the counter where he was. My thought was that he assumed that all young black men would harm or rob him. I could not believe that he used racial micro aggression because most of the immigrants that come to the United States are not always respected and accepted.
My Observational experiences this week have affected my perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people. I have learned that there are great deals of people in the world that are still discriminated against every day. I have also learned that stereotyping and insulting others can cause severe stress and harm to them, and last I have learned that what we say and how we speak to others can affect them negatively. As educators we must choose a positive way to speak to others because this is how we expect others to speak to us. Although we all often state that our society is getting better with micro aggression others still experience discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotyping of some sort.
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such a stirring example of microaggression. That must have been a very uncomfortable situation for you to be in as a child. It was insightful for your mother to have taught you how to react in a situation like that, and sad that it was necessary. I imagine that store owner lost more business than just yours that day.
Hi Sharon, thank you for sharing your experience of witnessing a microaggression as a child. That experience must have made an impact on you as it remained as one of your memories. The man in the store made the same "You people" comment that we read in the scenarios. The difference is that in the scenario, I don't think Susan's comment to Denise was meant to intentionally hurt her, but the comment made by man in the store put a different tone into "You people." His comment seemed more to what Dr. Sue referred to as a microassault as his comment was hostile and deliberate and he hurt this man on conscious level (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).
ReplyDeleteI agree with how you how harmful discrimination is, but like you said, we need to continue to model how to speak to others in a positive way, so people can get a better understanding that the inappropriate things we say are hurtful.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience.
Take care,
Stephanie
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteI also experienced a similar experience in a local store owned by a Korean family. This was a place as a young child my peers and I would go into after school to get 5 cents bubble gum. It is sad that there is a stigma placed on certain individuals, due to concerning issues portrayed in the media.