Page 13 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

Foreword xi

and lesbians are definable, always illegal, and often open to redress through

prosecution. However, as logically argued by Dr. Sue, overt hate crimes,
though still all too common in society, represent only a small portion of the
hurricane - wind of oppression faced minute to minute, hour to hour, and day
to day by racial and sexual - orientation minorities and women. The majority of
oppression faced by these group members is “ micro ” (not immediately visible
to the eye), insidious, psychologically and physically draining, and often not

definable, illegal, or open to redress.
Social science researchers have coined such terms as “ modern racism, ”
“ aversive racism, ” and “ subtle racism ” in an attempt to capture and understand
the essence of the many forms of non - blatant racism. However, heretofore,
models for understanding non - blatant forms of racism and oppression have

been difficult to fully visualize and comprehend, almost as if looking through
a foggy window. Now, with Microaggressions in Everyday Life , we have a clear
window through which to see the manifestations, process, and impact of
everyday oppression. Through his decade - long research program, Dr. Sue has
provided us with a vivid model and clear vocabulary to understand, empirically
research, and hopefully reduce the day - to - day oppression faced by so many
persons in America and beyond.
2. Something About His Writing ! Whenever I sit down to read Dr. Sue ’ s
work, I cannot help but be riveted. This first happened for me in 1981, when

as a graduate student I began reading his inaugural edition of Counseling the
Culturally Different (now Counseling the Culturally Diverse ; Sue, 1981). At the
time there were few books on multicultural counseling, and Dr. Sue ’ s was
by far the most engaging, direct, and impactful. I felt the same way when
reading his Overcoming Our Racism (Sue, 2003) and, just recently, in fi nishing
this current work. In reading Microaggressions in Everyday Life , I felt as if I was
in a small group talking with and interacting with Dr. Sue. His personhood,
authenticity, and passion for justice shine through in every chapter. He uses
everyday language that is understandable and impactful, and he does not tip-
toe around issues of microaggressions and racism. He is direct in presenting
his positions, clear and logical in reviewing and integrating a wide body of
research, and hopeful in pointing a way forward for all of us in terms of work-
ing to understand microaggressions in ourselves, and to stop microaggressions
against our fellow citizens.
Another reaction I had while reading Dr. Sue ’ s newest work was more
visceral in nature. Generally, when reading books about racism and prej-
udice I process them “ in my head, ” intellectually. However, throughout

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