When I started college my friends and I went to different
parties around the Cleveland, Ohio area. It is there where I met my first “boyfriend"
who happened to be a Jamaican man 16 years older than me. Of course, my family
did not approve me dating someone outside my race or someone with such a big
age difference. We stay together for over 10 years though. While we were dating
his friends always said” well that's what white women do, or that’s what a
white person would say.” I didn’t know any better. Coming from a small town
where everyone was wait, I figured this is how people talk to each other They
always made it a point to make sure I was in my place, and I knew I wasn’t
Jamaican like them. So micro aggression was happening to me, and I didn't even
realize. But I, being a 21 year old from a small all white community, did not
realize I was doing the same thing two others while at my new job. I was saying
the same kind of comments to the African American coworkers I had. Well, that's
something that black people do, is what I would say all the time until my
coworkers confronted me and told me that was the wrong way to speak to each
other. I was so embarrassed but that's all I knew. I did not know much about
the world because I was sheltered in a small community. I was racist and I had
no idea. I felt out of place and very uncomfortable when my Jamaican boyfriend’s
friends where to talk to me in such a manner. Now because what I have learned
from them, I was also using microaggression on my coworkers and making them
feel belittled. I'm glad they felt comfortable to confront me tell me what I
was doing was wrong. I did not have money street smarts. I had education but
not streets smarts or a multicultural growth view.
Through learning about micro aggression this week, I see that
I was affected by discrimination and prejudice and put in a stereotype position
while dating my Jamaican boyfriend. But for those 10 years I also
discriminated, torrents others of different races and I did and was prejudice
put people into stereotypes because of what I have learned during my first
communication with others of a different race. You live and learn. And shame on
me for doing what I have done in the past. But I know better now, and I try to
never make anyone feel discriminated against or feel like I am putting them
into a stereotype.
Comments
Post a Comment