One night as I got home to my apartment building, some guys were hanging around outside. As I passed, one of them said something about Chinese food. It was something like, “Chinese food is the worst. It’s gross.” I might’ve thought nothing of it, but he said it right as I passed, and interrupted whomever was talking to do so. Then I looked over and saw who was talking. It was the same guy who had in two previous instances, moved to block the door, forcing me to say “excuse me” to get in. He did it moving backwards or to the side, as if he was just adjusting his position or moving naturally as part of his conversation. And yet there was something intentional about it.
Another day. I was at work, where I don’t have a desk and move from place to place. I was sitting next to a guy whom I had never talked to. I said a few words to him. He said a few words back. Nothing remarkable– just casual conversation. A few minutes later he turns and talks to the person behind him about food. And says he hates Chinese food.
Is this a coincidence? Am I being paranoid? Or overly sensitive? Derald Wing Sue, professor of education at Columbia University’s Teachers College, would say no. His research identifies this behavior as a “racial microaggression.” A racial microaggression is brief, everyday exchange that sends a denigrating message to a person of color. Very often it’s a subtle insult where you might not even know what’s wrong, but can sense that something negative is being said. Because it’s not overt and it’s small, it may feel too insignificant to comment on it. And yet at the same time, it bothers you.
Here’s an easier microaggression to describe: the passing shot of the guy who yells “Go back to China!” Professor Sue would classify this as a microassault. What are you supposed to do, turn around and start an argument with him? You are forced to let a lot of it go.
This type of racism is what people experience on a daily basis. While no one instance is that bad, they may cumulatively result in feelings of anger, frustration, ostracism, mistrust, and loss of self-esteem.
The American Psychologist article Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life calls for “research that points to adaptive ways of handling microaggressions” and “to increase awareness and sensitivity of whites to microaggressions so that they accept responsibility for their behaviors.” There’s also a more reader- friendly summary of the article in APA journal (APA here stands for American Psychological Association), Unmasking Racial Microaggressions.
And here’s a table I made from the article which shows some examples of racial microaggressions most relevant to Asians: Examples of Racial Microaggressions.
It’s notable that this researcher is currently based in New York (though he’s originally from Portland way back when, and then California). New York of all places is the ideal breeding grounds for micro-anything. There’s so many people here that you have microencounters all day.
(Featured image Flickr photo credit: rollenran)
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17 Comments to “Racial Microaggressions”
LindaChan wrote:
Wow! Thanks for such an informative article. I always thought I was paranoid for getting offended or put-out by “little” comments that most other people consider innocuous. I'm glad there's an actual term for this and that it's being studied. I really like the chart too.
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 7:05 am | Permalink
catherine_sr wrote:
This sounds like a fascinating study. I'm looking forward to reading it, even though I'm sure it will raise my blood pressure because I've encountered a lot of similar situations.
In NYC, it was stuff like you've described above; now that I live in Taipei, I often hear people suddenly launch into conversations about ABCs that and ABCs this and ABCs are so spoiled and ABCs are so rich and ABCs are so blah blah blah when they hear me speak English. My husband is white (and also fluent in Mandarin), so we also overhear the “foreigners are this and that” conversations, too, as well as creepy and stupid observations about interracial couples. It would be entertaining if it weren't so annoying.
But the overheard remarks from strangers is less insidious than having a friend who pulls the same kind of crap on you. My ex-friend used to do random things like send me pictures of racist signs or links to racist Web pages. Her line would be “oh, isn't this awful,” but I didn't get why she felt the need to keep reminding me that racism exists until I realized that she's just a passive-aggressive nut.
“This type of racism is what people experience on a daily basis. While no one instance is that bad, they may cumulatively result in feelings of anger, frustration, ostracism, mistrust, and loss of self-esteem.” That's true, unfortunately. You also feel like you are going crazy sometimes — should I let these little things get to me? What if the slight is just in my imagination? What if my friend just wants to share her indignation at the way Asian Americans are treated in the media, etc. I think honestly it's the doubting yourself and wondering if you are being oversensitive that wears down at you the most.
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 8:49 am | Permalink
moye wrote:
Great post, Lily!
I always wonder…do these people subconsciously think of Chinese food because they see you (as in, your Asian ethnicity brings up thoughts on things pertaining to Asian culture, like food which leads them to talk about it), or is the “Chinese food is gross” just their first pick for a micro-insult? Either way, your ethnicity stands out to them in a negative way and to me, that's derogatory.
Anyway, I think you should punch that guy who blocks the doorway in the face.
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 9:40 am | Permalink
Lily Huang wrote:
Lol. I'll let you know what happens.
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 6:03 pm | Permalink
jozjozjoz wrote:
Lily, thanks for this great post.
I know a lot of people are hesitant to call incidents like this overtly racist precisely because they are so subtle, you feel like you're supposed to just ignore it and get over it. But as the articles point out, these small incidents do have a cumulative effect, so I'm glad someone is acknowledging it.
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 7:29 pm | Permalink
professoreric wrote:
FYI: I love chinese food.
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 8:33 pm | Permalink
lenajc wrote:
Great post. I didn't know that there was even a term for these type of comments/incidents. It so difficult to talk about these covert forms of racism because it's likely one will get a response that he/she is overly-sensitive, as you and the authors of the linked article pointed out. At least I have a term to call it so I feel mostly validated.
On a slightly different topic, I was just wondering, are there that many studies done on racism between POCs? I also wonder if there were any studies done on racism towards white people since it seems to be more acceptable to insult white people than POCs. Even I kind of did that today (I told a coworker he dressed WASPy).
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 8:41 pm | Permalink
lenajc wrote:
Yeah, about the guy blocking your doorway, it seems a bit weird and slightly scary, that he would go out of his way to force some sort of small/petty interaction with you. But he does deserve a punch in the face.
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 8:49 pm | Permalink
erika888 wrote:
The thing about anti-white racism (or prejudice, whichever term is preferred) is that in the western world, white people are the most powerful ethnic group because they are of the racial majority, and because of that. Though anti-white racism is often problematic, the consequences of that do not affect white people in the same way as POC, as they have the support of innate privilege that has been given them over generations.
I'm tired so my wording might've been confusing, but read more here: http://womenscreativecollective.org/blog/2009/0...
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 9:26 pm | Permalink
lenajc wrote:
erika888, I haven't looked at your link yet, but I'll definitely check it out. I totally get your point about racism against white people vs. POCs and the differences in impact. In fact, I agree. However, being half-Asian and half-white, to a certain extent I can relate to being upset by negative comments directed to either side. I was just curious if there was anything written about racism towards whites. I mean, it has to have at least some small impact to where some will even try to, for lack of a better term, “deny their whiteness” by saying things like “I'm not white, I'm (insert some European nationality)” (which sounds stupid to me) or by emphasizing some distant non-white heritage. I know that I've read something similar about blacks (African Americans in particular) doing the same or as one person put it “devaluing” their African American heritage. Just my two cents.
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 10:06 pm | Permalink
erika888 wrote:
I don't really think an aggressive form of racism (where someone of one race belittles/threatens/etc another race) has to do with white people denying their whiteness. I think an overall culture where white people have privilege, with the default “white culture” being the default, leads to whites feeling like they need to embrace their true roots and heritage. I think it's great when white people feel pride about their varied backgrounds, whether it's Italian, Irish, Jewish, English, Scottish, Czech, or whatever else. However the outright denial of the concept of whiteness and their ingrained privilege is problematic, obviously.
Blacks denying their heritage seems to stem from another source for the most part; society, comprised of both whites and blacks (and other POC) is used to seeing Blacks in violent roles on tv and in movies, as well as on the news as being a perpetrator of some crime. Many Black people, unfortunately some I know personally, would rather attempt to let go of their heritage than be painted with the same broad brushstroke. Some unfortunately place the blame only on the Black community for its own shortcomings instead of realizing that there is a bigger societal problem.
Posted on 15-Sep-09 at 10:20 pm | Permalink
facebook-781570365 wrote:
Really good article !
Being half Filipino – I would get pretty dumb comments when I was little – and when mixed couples weren't the norm in my little English village. Subtle indeed, but sometimes the comments could cross over to being plain stupid – example of micro insults: “You people always have a problem!” But the classic one has to be when summer job hunting with my mum during uni – the woman at the job agency took one look at me and my mum and said to me in a slow patronising tone : ” Do – you – have – a – British – passport ?”
I admire my mum for putting down the “frustration, the anger and the loss of self esteem” and brushing it away like dirt on the floor. I wish somehow I wouldn't get that slight pang when someone does say something ignorant.
Posted on 16-Sep-09 at 8:43 am | Permalink
facebook-3305315 wrote:
Thank you so much for this informative article. For those in the New England area, there's an event at the University of Vermont about Microaggressions:
Discrimination in a New Package, Microaggressions: How to Understand Indirect Bias in Our Lives
DATE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2009
TIME: 5PM-6:30PM
PLACE: MEMORIAL LOUNGE, WATERMAN BUILDING, UVM
This program is free and open to the public. It shares the most current research on microaggressions and its impact on communities. The event provides a forum to discuss the best practices for addressing microaggressions from multiple viewpoints and situations by bring together the following experts to discuss the issues:
SPEAKERS:
Kevin Nadal: Professor, psychologist, performer, activist, and author who received his doctorate in counseling psychology from Columbia University in 2008. (Author of Filipino American Psychology)
Nicole Watkins: Multicultural researcher and therapist, academic advisor, and doctoral candidate in the psychological counseling program at Teachers College, Columbia University.
David Rivera: Therapist, multicultural researcher and doctoral candidate in counseling psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University.
This program is open to the public, please call 802-656-8833 for more information
Posted on 16-Sep-09 at 7:31 pm | Permalink
lupe garcia wrote:
I have problems like that. I don't know if thei're doing on purpose or just something they have on their minds. I'm not asia, but your article really come to me. Some people when I come close to them start talking about immigration or mexicans. I'm proud of being mexican but i get so annoyed by rude and ignorate things people say about us. But i get what you're saying microagression people think that people don't want to be seen as racist but they are.
Posted on 17-Sep-09 at 8:19 am | Permalink
malfeasanceses wrote:
Hey, I'm white, and I don't think that kind of thing is due to anti-white racism. It's more like, 1.) white people think that the opposite of racism is colorblindness, so any kind of acknowledgment of race is bad, or at least super rude and awkward, 2.) accepting that we're white means accepting that we're part of a group of people that commit(ed/s) slavery, genocide, colonization, etc, and that means feeling guilty, and 3.) we want to be seen as “individuals.”
Also, what erika888 said.
It might be more acceptable to verbally pick on white people (in some places), but it's never more acceptable for white people to suffer any other form of racism, for example… being vastly unrepresented in positions of power. (We can't even handle ONE president of color.)
Posted on 19-Sep-09 at 10:17 pm | Permalink
lxy wrote:
His research identifies this behavior as a “racial microaggression.” A racial microaggression is brief, everyday exchange that sends a denigrating message to a person of color.
“Racial microaggression” sounds like a euphemism for the same old White racism that most minorities have to deal with all too often in 'post-racial' America.
Forget about Political Correctness and call a spade a spade.
Call it White cultural racism or White social racism.
Posted on 26-Sep-09 at 3:34 am | Permalink
yudera wrote:
very nice post!
I wil check the links that you left in the body of the text about this microagressions!
i am a japanese-brazilian, and in Brazil we have to deal with those too, althought we dont have those open conversation about it as much as you have in the US. Racism here is commonly related to white-black relations, and its a subject that few accept to talk about. There is a myth that in Brazil there's no racism, and most people who disagree with that myth bases their argument in black-white relations, due to the fact that the poverty here is related to black people. That way, most of the discussion about racism here is based in social-class (poverty), and when you have something to say about racism that is not related to poverty and therefore, economic exclusion, you are not taken seriously.
Posted on 04-Oct-09 at 3:38 pm | Permalink
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