Practicing Awareness of
Microaggressions
Describe
at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or
remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen?
What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you
found yourself as the target of a microaggression?
An example of a microagression that I experienced was just
recently when my son turned 17 years old and we went out to look for a car for
him. I chose to get him a car on his 17th
birthday instead of his 18th birthday. We went to a car dealership and there we were
greeted by an elderly Caucasian gentleman. Before we even began looking at cars
he stated that we may want to visit another dealership because the price ranges
for the cars on the lot may not fit my income. I was shocked because he just assumed because
we were African American and I was a female that I would not be able afford a
car there. I politely said that we would
still like to look. While looking around
at various cars, he followed us around even though there were other people
waiting to see him, or as if to rush us out of the place. We finally found a car that my son liked and
told the salesman that we had made a decision.
We went back into his office and while doing the paperwork he asked me
about my income and if that was the only income I had and I said yes. He said you have a pretty big son, he looks
like he can play football, that might bring in some extra income if he is any
good and goes pro. We politely excused
ourselves and ended up going to another dealership. I felt insulted not just for myself but also for
my son. People judge people based on their own assumptions which create racial
conflicts among people.
In
what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of
the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people.
I know that there are still prejudice people out here who
discriminate for no reason. There are
some African American people as well as other nationalities that are also
prejudice. For this reason we have to
prepare ourselves to deal with these types of negative situations or
circumstances. I am a strong woman with
morals and values and I feel that I would be willing to deal with this negativity. By being an early childhood professional I
have to be a positive role model for the young children that I work with,
therefore I am glad that I am able to positively deal with various stereotypes,
discrimination and prejudice situations that I encounter.
Kesha,
ReplyDeleteThe scenario that you described would have left me outraged. I applaud you for leaving and taking your business somewhere else. I would have also taken a stand by writing a letter to the upper level management of that car dealership. Attitudes such as this should not be tolerated, but handled in a mature-sensible manner. We have to send a message that we are not going to allow ourselves to be subjected to such ignorance and a blatant disregard for who are as Black people and human beings. There is no such this as White money or Black money;it's all green with the same economic value.
Comments like this from a professional really upsets me. They didn't even get to know you before stating this. It really aggravates me when people do things like this.
ReplyDeleteKesha,
ReplyDeleteI think that is horrible what happened to you at the car dealership. It is really said if it was true mircoaggression and the salesman did not think anything bad about what he was saying. But unfortunately it is the world that we live in today. I am proud of you that you left that dealership and took your business elsewhere. -Jolene Hernandez-Romero
Kesha,
ReplyDeleteThat was a terrible experience for you and your son to endure. My son experienced a " coming of age." racial experience at a school uniform shop at a very expensive mall when he was 11 years of age. I sent him into the shop to look for some school shirts. He attended a very prestigious boys private school in our city. When I walked down to the store to get him, he abruptly rushed out of the store complaining that a salesperson kept following him around the store. Many black males are constantly followed around in stores which is a very uncomfortable feeling. Until the negative images are stopped in the US, nothing will change..