When I was a teenager, I attended an FCA (Fellowship of
Christian Athletes) Camp in Black Mountain, North Carolina. This camp was amazing
because I met girls from different parts of the U.S. and they were all of
different cultural backgrounds. I experienced my first microagression and I
didn’t even know it. A white girl that stayed in my dorm room asked me if I knew
how to braid hair in corn rows, and when I told her no I didn’t she was upset
and she mentioned that I should know how to braid hair in corn rows because
that’s what my people do. When she made the comment, I didn’t think anything of
it, I just ignored her and went on my way. Now, that I think about it, I feel
like I should have been upset because she assumes that because I am an African
American that I know how to braid hair. Her comment to me was very hurtful and
I could have reacted in a way to where I could have said something to insult
her culture but I didn’t. Being targeted of a microagression is a learning experience
and I know what I should think before I speak so I wouldn’t offend anyone. As an educator, I believe it’s important for
me to educate not only just children and families, but my own family on the
awareness of microagressions so these experiences don’t happen much.
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