Awareness of Microagressions

      I can remember an event I attended where people were dancing and enjoying themselves.  Among those joining our group of black people was a white acquaintance.  We were enjoying the music and talking when someone asked me if I wanted to dance.  I refused and commented that I'm not the best dancer.  An off hand, kind of joking comment was made by our white acquaintance--something to the effect, "Don't be shy.  You know you can dance."  Given the fact that this person did not really know me or anything about my background, I received the comment as implying that I could dance because I am black.  I don't remember being extremely bothered or feeling offended at the moment.  I did, however, let her know that her assumption was not correct. 
      I think microgagressions have occurred often in my life and many have gone unnoted.   I think that has happened because they were presented in a light-hearted or off handed way, or come from people that we would not expect racist behavior to come from.  And, just as Dr. Sue mentions in the video, something will happen and you will ask yourself "Did what I think just happened just happen" and often I have dismissed it.

      Dr. Sue's presentation speaks to the fact that we hold biases that we are often unaware of, but their existence is revealed in these microagressions which are not overt, direct expressions of those biases.  Clearly, people are attacked because of their culture much more frequently than I previously thought and I realize that their thinking about themselves and others is quietly impacted each time.  As an educator, I will have to be alert to the occurrence of microagressions in my own conversation and behaviors and make every effort to eliminate bias that I detect within myself.