Microaggression Videos

Why Discuss Microaggressions

Microaggressions, also known as implicit or unconscious bias, are extremely important because they affect people of color more than anyone realizes. I watched my own daughter go from being really confident to being really suicidal over the course of five years due to unconscious and conscious bias. Microaggressions in public schools have been a really big problem for a very long time. Teachers, students, and administrative personnel commit microaggressions all of the time. When microaggressions in public schools are reported, they tend to be thrown aside with even more microaggressions. This can lead to individuals becoming less confident in themselves, others around them, and even their environment. Individuals also experience increased anxiety, severe or worsened depression, suicidal thoughts and ideations, and even developing a “fight or flight” response to everyday life and social situations.

Microaggressions are like a thousand paper cuts. One cut is okay if you take care of it, but a thousand paper cuts can kill you in a matter of seconds. The same is true about microaggressions. Eradicating microaggressions are not just the responsibility of the people the biases are directed towards; it is also the responsibility of the person committing the microaggressions. Together, we can put an end to eradicating microaggressions. Some of the things people can do include becoming aware of one’s own biases, gaining awareness by taking microaggression training classes, listening attentively when marginalized groups are talking about their personal experiences, holding peers accountable when they commit microaggressions, educating oneself about minority groups’ oppressions and struggles, and not getting defensive when being confronted about committing a microaggression.