“Putting Into Words What I Live” Workshop Recap
Anna Hardeman
Building on our Mini-Microaggressions Film Festival in October, LOCUS held a facilitated discussion on microaggressions at Rondo Community Outreach Library last week. Once again, Chelles’ Kitchen provided a delicious meal while guest facilitatorAlicia Sojourner, Racial Justice and Public Policy Program Coordinator at the YWCA of Minneapolis, shed light on the history, origination and impact of microaggressions in communities of color and society as a whole. We started the evening by spending some time on the definition of microaggressions.
Microaggressions: “Brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color”- Professor Derald Sue
While unpacking the definition above, Alicia opened discussion for attendees to share their own personal experiences with microaggressions. She challenged the group to not only think of instances where we were on the receiving end of microaggressions, but when we have been the perpetrator of such acts. This expanded the conversation to discuss how we as communities of color also allow and perpetuate stereotypes and use them against one another.
In order to confront microaggressions, Alicia provided the group with 5 teachings on how to begin conversations to address them when they occur.
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