Page 12 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

x foreword

work and role modeling is his openness and courage. Dr. Sue has personally
experienced countless microaggressions (as well as blatant macroaggressions)
in his personal life and career, a number of which he candidly, vividly, and
poignantly describes in his published life story (Sue, 2001), as well as in the
current text. Dr. Sue discusses the impact of these racist incidents on himself
and his family, and he describes the actions he took and the resources he drew
on to cope with these experiences. Thus, what you are about to read in this
destined - to - be - classic text has deep roots and anchors in Dr. Sue ’ s personal
life experiences. The result is a textural work of scholarship that is fl uid, riv-
eting to read, replete with real life day - to - day examples, at times alarming
and upsetting to process, and in the end, hopeful in contemplating “ the way
forward. ”
2. Though as a reader and practicing clinician I am drawn to the unfolding
interplay of Dr. Sue ’ s life experiences and integrative, interdisciplinary writing,
as a researcher I am impressed with the depth and breadth of his scholarship,
his research vision, and his pure scientific skill. Dr. Sue is one of the few mixed

methods researchers in multicultural psychology, and his mastery of both
qualitative approaches (e.g., long interviews, discourse analysis, case studies,
participant observation) and quantitative designs (e.g., large sample survey
research and experimental designs) inform his writing and help him creatively
investigate his personal perceptions garnered as a Chinese American living in
the United States and a psychologist and educator who has worked directly
on the topic of racism through decades of teaching, consultation, clinical service,
and national leadership. In Microaggressions in Everyday Life, Dr. Sue master-
fully pulls all of his life and work experiences together to frame a new theory
and vision for the study of racism, sexism, and homophobia. What Dr. Sue
has created in his “ Taxonomy of Microaggressions ” will ignite research in the

field of racism and multiple oppressions that will ultimately lead to marked
change in the way we all deal with and respect one another. This book is that
good. It will change the way you think, it will move you to act and not just

witness and observe, and it will even influence how you feel toward, commu-
nicate with, and care for your own loved ones, students, and clients.
Having provided a glimpse into Dr. Sue as a person, role model, and
scholar, I now turn to my reactions to reading this new book. I have organized
my impressions of Microaggressions in Everyday Life along six major areas:
1. A Window of Clarity . Most of us know blatant racism, sexism, and
homophobia when we see it. Sexual harassment and domestic violence
toward women, and hate crimes directed toward racial minorities and gays

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