Racial Trauma: Microaggressions and Microinterventions
“All lives matter.”
“Are you her nanny?”
“You don’t sound Black.”
Do any of these sound familiar? They are examples of typical microaggressions that are rampant in our society. They are a category of racial trauma, which is one of the most common afflictions amongst people of color. Is is loosely defined as the psychological and emotional toll of the accumulation of direct and indirect discrimination, othering, prejudice, and aggression towards POC. It is a true intersectional concept in that social categories like race are often intertwined with social standing related to gender and class. As a result, microaggressions are highly likely to occur when marginalized social identities are stacked (ie, Black, non-binary immigrant in a rural town).
Dr. Derald Wing Sue, professor of counseling psychology at Columbia University, uses the term “microintervention” to describe the process of confronting a microaggression. Your response will vary by situation, context and relationship but it may be helpful to have a few prepared statements to counter daily microaggressions. This may be applicable to individuals/victims of microaggressions, allies and bystanders.
Microinterventions have two primary functions:
They serve to support psychological well-being, and provide the individual, allies and bystanders with a sense of control and self-efficacy.
They can be used to directly disarm or counteract the effects of microaggressions. They are interpersonal tools that are intended to counteract, challenge or stop microaggressions by subtly or overtly confronting and educating the microaggressor.
Three microinterventions to keep in mind:
Ask for more clarification: “Could you say more about what you mean by that?” “Can you explain why that is funny? I don’t get it.”
Separate intent from impact: “I know you didn’t mean to, but that comment you made was demeaning to Gabby because that is a negative stereotype of LGBTQ folx.”
Share your own process: “I used to do/say that too, but then I learned why it was so problematic and hurtful.”