Microaggressions and Modern Racism

Endurance and Evolution

Charisse C. Levchak

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9783319703329
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Sociology
• Index: Social Sciences

Microaggressions and Modern Racism: Endurance and Evolution explores the causes, manifestations, and consequences of microaggressions, macroaggressions, and modern racism within society. Using surveys and interview data alongside examples in mainstream media, Levchak provides a comprehensive analysis of modern racism on college campuses, in workplaces, and in various media. In so doing, she expands microaggression theory and explores race-based aggression and race relations through sociological and social justice frameworks. The resources offered here have the potential to inform anti-racism policy, programming, and practice that can impact the lives and well-being of all people.

© The Author(s) 2018

Charisse C. LevchakMicroaggressions and Modern Racismhttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70332-9_1

Begin Abstract

1. Introduction

Charisse C. Levchak¹

(1)

Department of Sociology, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, USA

Social problems have social solutions.

—Dr. Charisse Levchak

End Abstract

We Are the Solution

Racism is a social problem, but it has a social solution. The solution requires dedication and hard work from individuals and institutions, but it is worth the effort. We all have been socialized and influenced intentionally and unintentionally by our family, friends, the media , schools , and other social institutions to either respect, appreciate, or embrace racial diversity or to hold racial biases . When we learn racial biases (and our prejudices go unchecked and unchallenged), the result is a vile mixture of fear, discomfort, and hatred that we hold against other people and even ourselves. Consequently, for many, reflecting on and talking about race and racism generates feelings of discomfort, trepidation, and distress. Some may even become angry and retaliate against those who do want to discuss or address issues related to race and racism. So, whether you want to avoid discussing race , biases , and racism, or whether you find doing so cathartic and useful, there are internal and external obstacles that must be overcome if we will ever heal the wounds of racism, be able to fully enjoy interracial solidarity , and achieve social justice.

We Must Overcome Our Biases, Silence, and Inaction

The good news is that we can overcome our biases, and we can meaningfully contribute to interracial solidarity and racial justice efforts . The biases that we hold have been learned, so we can unlearn them by embracing cultural competence and awareness education. Cultural competence and awareness training involve being exposed to social justice ideals and diverse narratives that help us learn how to respectfully live among and interact with people from different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Another important step toward racial justice and solidarity is being courageous and speaking up when we see racial injustice or bigotry being directed toward anyone, regardless of race . Those of us who are truly interested in peace and racial harmony must be committed to addressing and eradicating race -based aggression and bigotry regardless of whether the target is a person of color or White. When we decide that some racial or ethnic groups deserve protection and respect, and others do not, we begin to take on the characteristics of the oppressor. Such biased positions will impede us from attaining true liberation from racial oppression because liberation cannot thrive where oppression is allowed to run rampant. If we will ever achieve peace and healing , we need to work toward these noble goals together and challenge race -based contempt and aggression in all of its forms.

We must also prioritize long-lasting positive social change over our own comfort. This means pushing past short-term discomfort and examining the ways we have been oppressed, the ways that we have contributed to the oppression of others, and the ways that we have been privileged at the expense of others. More importantly, it means finding healing for ourselves, healing for those we have hurt, healing for those who we stand in solidarity with, and ensuring that we do our part to end racism in the United States. It also means questioning and analyzing the intricacies of our social environment, challenging the oppressive behaviors that we see in others, not being defensive when others reveal our transgressions, and checking and challenging ourselves when we are wrong. When our biases start playing in our minds, we have the power to change our course of thinking and action. We can make the active choice to embrace peace and unity by approaching each other with genuine interest, empathy , concern, and respect. Once we have pushed past our biases, apprehension, dread, and, in some cases hatred, we can achieve understanding, awareness , solidarity , and, yes, even love.

We Must Talk About Racism and Do Our Part to Address It

As discussed above, conversations about race can result in a range of emotions that often includes anger , guilt , and avoidance . However, discussing race and racism is inextricably linked to improving race relations in the United States. If we let our emotions deter us from addressing racism, how can our wounded race relations in the United States ever be healed?

Oppression thrives in silence , and if we want to end racism and achieve racial and social justice, silence will not work. Instead, we should seek out educational opportunities to increase our awareness and to learn anti-racism strategies , and once we’ve gained this knowledge, we should confidently use our voice to speak out against injustice and to engage in anti-racism efforts . However, even with knowledge and empathy , we must still resist the temptation to remain silent because silence about racism can be just as damaging as acts of racism. This sentiment is captured in a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. (King 2010: 39)

Benefits for People of Color

I believe that people of color discuss race and racism for three very important reasons that I refer to as the “3Ps”—preparation, protection, and processing . We talk about race and racism in order to prepare each other for the harsh realities of being a person of color in a White supremacist society. Such conversations usually center on the racist experiences a person of color has endured, as well as the strategies they used to avoid, challenge, and overcome affronts. The preparation stage helps to protect us from victimization because we learn valuable information and strategies through shared narratives . For example, we might learn who our allies are, which spaces are safe, and which spaces are unsafe. During this stage, we might also discover useful strategies such as recording racist incidents or saving racist correspondences so they can be used as evidence when we report aggressors or offenders to authorities or to the police . The processing stage involves having an open dialogue about race and racism with a trusted confidant in an effort to heal from the race -based challenges we have faced and so we can further build resilience. The “3Ps” are represented in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

3P’s model: Benefits of discussing race for target groups

Benefits for Everyone

Short-term unease related to talking about race is inconsequential compared to enjoying and benefiting from friendships and relationships with people of all racial backgrounds; cultural exchanges where shared knowledge and information can change individuals, communities, and the world for the better; schools and workplaces that are free from racism and where the voices, creativity, and intellect of people of color are no longer suppressed; positive representation in the media where people of color are depicted in positive ways that inspire everyone; and the elimination of racist hate crimes that only increase racial animus and distrust. Overall, it is my hope that this project will encourage constructive conversations about modern racism and that it will inspire interventions to reduce racism and help targets of racism.

Purpose of Work

When the roots of this project began to develop in 2011, the United States was experiencing a fascinating cultural moment as it related to race . With the election of our first Black pr...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Front Matter
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Microaggressions, Macroaggressions, and Modern Racism
• 3. Racist Beliefs and the Importance of Cultural Competence
• 4. Microaggressions, Macroaggressions, and Modern Racism in Higher Education
• 5. Microaggressions, Macroaggressions, and Modern Racism in the Workplace
• 6. Microaggressions, Macroaggressions, and Modern Racism in the Media and Popular Culture
• 7. The Future of Race and Racism in the United States
• Back Matter