North Jersey gallery examines the impact of microaggressions
Updated Jan 11, 2021;
Microaggressions are defined as subtle, intentional — and oftentimes unintentional — everyday interactions or behaviors that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial messages or assumptions toward historically marginalized groups:
Saying “You are so articulate” to a Black person may be an indication that one presumes Blacks are not usually capable of competent intellectual conversation.
Asking “Who are you? Do you live here?” to someone in their own garage, home or car may be a cloaked challenge for them to prove they “belong” or to send a message they are not welcome.
“Can I touch your hair?” — or worse, touching without even asking — may seem like a friendly curiosity, but could be an invasion of someone’s personal space and make them feel like they are an animal on display.