Examples of Racial Microaggressions
Examples of Racial Microaggressions
|Theme |Microaggression |Message |
|Alien in own land |“Where are you from?” |You are not American. |
|When Asian Americans and Latino |“Where were you born?” | |
|Americans are assumed to be |“You speak good English.” | |
|foreign-born |A person asking an Asian American to teach them|You are a foreigner. |
| |words in their native language | |
|Ascription of intelligence |Asking an Asian person to help with a |All Asians are intelligent and good |
|Assigning intelligence to a person of |math or science problem |inmath/sciences. |
|color on the basis of their race | | |
|Color blindness |“When I look at you, I don’t see color.” |Denying a person of color’s racial/ |
|Statements that indicate that a | |ethnic experiences. |
|White person does not want to |“America is a melting pot.” |Assimilate/acculturate to the |
|acknowledge race | |dominant culture. |
| |“There is only one race, the human race.” |Denying the individual as a racial/ |
| | |cultural being. |
|Denial of individual racism |“I’m not racist. I have several Black friends.”|I am immune to racism because Ihave |
|A statement made when Whites | |friends of color. |
|deny their racial biases |“As a woman, I know what you go |Your racial oppression is no different |
| |through as a racial minority.” |than my gender oppression. I can’t be a|
| | |racist. I’m like you. |
|Myth of meritocracy |“I believe the most qualified person should |People of color are given extra |
|Statements which assert that race |get the job.” |unfairbenefits because of their race. |
|does not play a role in life |“Everyone can succeed in this society, if |People of color are lazy |
|successes |they work hard enough.” |and/orincompetent and need to work |
| | |harder. |
|Pathologizing cultural values/ |Asking a Black person: “Why do you |Assimilate to dominant culture. |
|communication styles |have to be so loud/animated? Just calm | |
|The notion that the values and |down.” | |
|communication styles of the |To an Asian or Latino person: “Why are | |
|dominant/White culture are ideal |you so quiet? We want to know what | |
| |you think. Be more verbal.” “Speak up | |
| |more.” | |
| |Dismissing an individual who brings up |Leave your cultural baggage outside. |
| |race/culture in work/school setting | |
|Second-class citizen |Person of color mistaken for a service |People of color are servants toWhites. |
|Occurs when a White person is |worker |They couldn’t possibly occupy |
|given preferential treatment as a | |high-status positions. |
|consumer over a person of color |Having a taxi cab pass a person of color |You are likely to cause trouble and/or |
| |and pick up a White passenger |travel to a dangerous |
| | |neighborhood. |
|Second-class citizen |Being ignored at a store counter as |Whites are more valued customers |
|Occurs when a White person is |attention is given to the White customer |than people of color. |
|given preferential treatment as a |behind you | |
|consumer over a person of color |“You people . . . ” (and I would add, “some |You don’t belong. You are a lesser |
| |people” “these people”) |being. |
|Environmental microaggressions |A college or university with buildings that |You don’t belong/You won’t succeed |
|Macro-level microaggressions, |are all named after White heterosexual |here. There is only so far you can go. |
|which are more apparent on |upper class males | |
|systemic and environmental levels |Television shows and movies that feature |You are an outsider/You don’t exist. |
| |predominantly White people, without | |
| |representation of people of color | |
| | | |
Examples of Racial Microaggressions in Therapeutic Practice
| | | |
|Theme |Microaggression |Message |
|Color blindness |A therapist says “I think you are being too |Race and culture are not |
|Statements which indicate that |paranoid. We should emphasize similarities, not |important variables that affect |
|a White person does not |people’s differences” when a client of color |people’s lives. |
|want to acknowledge race |attempts to discuss her feelings about being the | |
| |only person of color at her job and feeling | |
| |alienated and dismissed by her co-workers. | |
| |A client of color expresses concern in discussing |Your racial experiences are not |
| |racial issues with her therapist. Her therapist |valid. |
| |replies with, “When I see you, I don’t see color.” | |
|Denial of individual racism |A client of color asks his or her therapist about |Your racial/ethnic experience is |
|A statement made when |how |not important. |
|Whites renounce their |race affects their working relationship. The | |
|racial biases |therapist replies, “Race does not affect the way I | |
| |treat you.” | |
| | |Your racial oppression is no |
| |A client of color expresses hesitancy in discussing|different than my gender |
| | |oppression. |
| |racial issues with his White female therapist. She | |
| |replies “I understand. As a woman, I face | |
| |discrimination also.” | |
|Myth of meritocracy |A school counselor tells a Black student that “if |People of color are lazy and/or |
|Statements which assert that |you |incompetent and need to work |
|race does not play a role in |work hard, you can succeed like everyone else.” |harder. If you don’t succeed, |
|succeeding in career |A career counselor is working with a client of |you have only yourself to |
|advancement or education. |color |blame (blaming the victim). |
| |who is concerned about not being promoted at | |
| |work despite being qualified. The counselor | |
| |suggests, “Maybe if you work harder you can | |
| |succeed like your peers.” | |
|Pathologizing cultural values/ |A Black client is loud, emotional, and |Assimilate to dominant culture. |
|communication styles |confrontational in a counseling session. The | |
|The notion that the values and |therapist diagnoses her with borderline | |
|communication styles of the |personality disorder. | |
|dominant/White culture are |A client of Asian or Native American descent has | |
|ideal |trouble maintaining eye contact with his therapist.| |
| | | |
| |The therapist diagnoses him with a social anxiety | |
| |disorder. |Leave your cultural baggageoutside. |
| |Advising a client, “Do you really think your | |
| |problem | |
| |stems from racism?” | |
|Second-class citizen |A counselor limits the amount of long-term |Whites are more valued than people |
|Occurs when a White person |therapy to provide at a college |of color. |
|is given preferential |counseling center; she chooses all | |
|treatment as a consumer |White clients over clients of color. |White clients are more valued than |
|over a person of color |Clients of color are not welcomed or |clientsof color. |
| |acknowledged by receptionists | |
| | | |
|Environmental microaggressions |A waiting room office has pictures of |You don’t belong/Only white people |
|Macro-level microaggressions, |American presidents. |cansucceed. |
|which are more apparent | | |
|on a systemic level |Every counselor at a mental health clinic is |You are an outsider/You don’t exist.|
| |White. | |
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