Page 172 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

146 racial/ethnic microaggressions and racism

disorder, and that “ racists ” should be considered mentally disturbed (Sue,
2005). Early theories on racism did attempt to explain “ racists ” and racism as
internal attributes and forms of individual pathology, such as the “ authoritarian
personality theory, ” which assumes such individuals are predisposed to racism
(Adorno, Frenkel - Brunswik, Levinson, & Sanford, 1950).
Further, a strong case can be made that hatred, bigotry, and stereotypes are
delusional belief systems, and White supremacists are out of contact with reality.
There are two potential downsides to equating racism to a manifestation of
pathology. First, although many overt racists could be classified as suffering

from some form of mental disorder, these individuals represent an extremely
small part of the racism problem. The overwhelming number of people who
harbor implicit biases are not “ hate mongers, ” “ racists, ” or likely to engage in
hate crimes (Pettigrew, 1981). Thus, limiting our concepts of racism to only
extreme acts of overt hatred is to deny its pervasiveness. Studies indicate
that racism is far more common and that nearly everyone in our society
has inherited the racial biases of their forebears (Dovidio & Gaertner, 2002;
Jones, 1997; Pettigrew, 1981; Sue, 2003). Equating racism with pathology,
unfortunately, diminishes its widespread nature by fostering an illusion
that good, normal, moral, and decent human beings do not harbor racist
attitudes and beliefs; thus, they do not discriminate or oppress. It allows
many to personally condemn racism and racists, but still cling to a personal
deception that they are free of bigotry.
In conclusion, it is not overt racists or White supremacists who create and
control the tools that result in personal pain suffered by people of color or in the
damaging disparities in education, health care, and employment. It is ordinary

citizens we elect to office, teachers who educate our children, business lead-
ers who carry out the policies and practices of their corporations, government
leaders, law enforcement offi cers, physicians, dentists, construction workers,
our family, friends, and neighbors. Let us briefly address how racial microag-

gressions not only reflect a worldview of White supremacy, but affect groups

of color in the United States.

RACIAL MICROAGGRESSIONS AND
AFRICAN AMERICANS

Race - related stress in the form of racism is a constant and continuing reality of
African Americans (Carter, 2007; USDHHS, 2001; Utsey & Hook, 2007). As we
have seen, racism may occur in any combination of these qualities: acute or

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