Blackface in Virginia, other incidents evoke conversation about how deeply rooted racism is in America
Starbucks on East Main Street is a quiet study space for many Kent State students like myself. The couches and wooden chairs give it a homey feel that makes you wanna stay forever. It’s fair to say, I’m in there every day, almost three times a week. I walked in one Thursday afternoon, and got my regular: A butter croissant, warmed up, and a venti Strawberry Green Tea with 12 pumps of liquid cane sugar. The lady taking my order goes, “Now spell your name for me so I get it right this time.” I was confused because she’s never asked for my name like this. I said, “It’s just Erica.” Now I don’t know what possessed the following words to come from her mouth but she goes, ‘Oh, I thought it was more…more uhm..more, I’m so sorry, I just thought,” she kept stuttering.
I said, “nothing more than just Erica with a C.” I paid for my order and proceeded to wait in the corner. As she brings over my croissant she goes, “I’m so sorry Erica, I just assumed your name was something more, I’m so sorry.” Her persistent apologizing made it even worse. I can see how you can see how the light-skin black girl with the long weave, glitter nails, and clear lip gloss with brown lip liner and an obnoxious fur coat can have a name that is “something more.”
This was a clear form of microaggression. The term “microaggression” was used by Columbia University professor Derald Sue to refer to “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color.” It can be as small as going up to a boy and asking, “you like sports, don’t you?” or as big as asking the guy in your math class who you’ve never spoken to where to get weed from.
Natasha Curtis serves as the Associate Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives at Kent State. She has an extensive background in cultural training, cross-cultural communication, inclusive leadership, equitable practices. She runs the microaggression training at Kent State and says she hears all different forms of microaggression.
Microaggressions are so common that sometimes someone doesn’t realize they’re doing it or someone doesn’t realize they should be offended.
“There are so many things that you can think of that can make people feel lesser. There are even microaggressions that aren’t even words. For example, you see a person of color walking down the street and you clutch your purse as if the color of their skin alone tells you they’re going to do something bad,” said Curtis.
Puerto Rican Katia Rodriguez recalls when she was a victim of microaggression at a Spanish and Latino Student Association (SALSA) event during her freshman year of college.
“This was actually during Hispanic Heritage Month. SALSA was having sort of a dance class we were in Eastway teaching everyone how to Salsa. It was all fun and games. This was actually during Hispanic Heritage Month. And this one white guy comes out and does like this stereotypical mexican call like a ‘ aye aye aye sound,” said Rodriguez.
At this point, this rest of her group got uncomfortable and were left silent for a minute while the rest of the kitchen staff started laughing. “It was such a weird racist microaggression and we were just all looking at each other. It steered us the wrong way. We didn’t say anything but I wish I did. But then again, I was a first semester freshman, what was I supposed to do?” said Rodriguez.
Another reason people don’t come forward on microaggression is due to not wanting to seem sensitive. Microaggression isn’t considered a hate crime and isn’t considered bullying. Microaggression by definition also holds the words “unintentional,” which can sometimes make you second guess whether you should feel a certain way when it happens to you.
“You know intent does not carry over into feelings. The people who are dealing with the microaggressions have the biggest load. They are first of all questioning if they have a right to say something about what happened to them and second they start to question their own identity,”said Curtis.
In response to the use of black face in the media recently by may fashion brands such as Gucci, Prada and Burberry there’s been talking on whether or not blackface is a form of a microaggression. Some people think it is, some people think its a microaggression. Then there are others who feel is that microaggression is just a word used to downplay the outright disrespect and racism that is being done.
Microaggressions are real and affect lives
Erica Carter: Print, Twitter poll, tweet
Caty Payette: Video, headshots, Twitter poll, featured image, tweet
