After reading the articles and watching the videos and though I kind of already knew, it just helped me realize that I am privileged and my privilege begins with my the ability to have a “choice”–the ability to choose to go to school to learn, to learn to read and write, having access to internet, the ability to work, to buy food, drive a car and so many other things we can do and have access to demonstrates our privilege. And being of the same race didn’t necessarily guarantee you to the same privileges or even any privileges at all.
As I read I kept relating it to the present state of affairs and which sadly has been going on for many, many years. Men, women and children who have a different skin color shouldn’t fear any type of interaction with police officers and definitely shouldn’t fear losing their lives solely based on their skin color. And the fact that this was once an issue and that it remains an issue is something I find very hard to believe and understand. Regardless of what I’ve read, what documentaries I have watched, etc. I fail to see what someone’s skin color has anything to do with getting a job, being respected, being accepted, being treated as a human! I’d like to think people are people but after reading the article on systemic privilege and microaggressions I realize such a statement dismisses the plight of those to whom some things just doesn’t come as easily as it does for others, such as, the basic right to not be immediately judged based on the color of your skin, which, like I said I don’t believe has anything to do with anything.
I remember one year my best friend and I decided to go on vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a week. During our vacation and while we were doing some thrift store shopping a Caucasian woman, for absolutely no reason, says to us”oh my, you guys all look alike.” The statement stopped us in our tracks as we were confused because we have no familial relation, which really was pretty obvious. We definitely look absolutely nothing alike, so the only other reason we could think of that she would be making such a statement was because we were Hispanic. I couldn’t believe she even had the audacity to say it to begin with. So I asked her what she meant as I was offended and I didn’t hide it. She attempted to make light of the situation, I’m assuming because I confronted her, and made a feeble attempt at a joke I can’t remember laughing dismissively before letting her know that all Hispanics do not look alike and that her comment was totally unnecessary and uncalled for and if there ever is a next time, she should keep her comments to herself. Then walked away, not giving her a chance to respond. And now more than ever we need to call people out for their blatant racism and ignorance and let them know that it is uncalled for and will no longer be tolerated. There are too many people of different cultures, race, gender, etc. for one to be superior over another.
Which would bring me to how I would help combat microaggressions would be to continue to get educated and then enter the field of social work so that I would be able to educate others.
Hey Michelle, thanks for sharing,. I really appreciated your acknowledgment of your “people are people” statement. I would love to say same thing as well but the truth is if that was the case then people would be treated with equity & fairness. So, I truly appreciate your outlook on humanity as a whole. I’m also sorry that you had to go through that experience and I’m proud you feel comfortable enough to protect and defend yourself in that situation.