Page 174 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

148 racial/ethnic microaggressions and racism

due to different interests (i.e., music). The first speaker addresses the issue

of fair treatment toward the “ Negro ” as evidenced in the excellent facilities
in their segregated public schools; the second speaker acknowledges that
Blacks attend his classes (equal education), but they do little together on the
outside. The first speaker is publicly and adamantly opposed to interracial

marriages; the second speaker disguises his objections as being “ worried
about the children. ”
Despite the morphing of old - fashioned racism to modern racism illustrated
in these two quotes, both are based upon a worldview of negative perceptions
and biases toward African Americans. For those interested in tracing the
historical evolution of Black racial stereotypes from the 1600s to the present,
and how White supremacy has played a major role, please see the excellent
analysis in Jones (1997).
When the general public thinks about Black Americans, certain historical
and current images and stereotypes are often invoked: hostile, angry, impulsive,
dangerous, drug dealers, criminals, pimps, prostitutes, addicts, unintelligent,
mentally retarded, low skills, lack abstract thinking, concrete, inhuman,
animalistic, undesirable, smelly, unkempt, dirty, mentally ill, abnormal, insatiable
sexual appetite, large sex organs, musically inclined, natural athletes, super-

stitious, happy - go - lucky, and “ all Blacks are the same.” Imagine what it must
be like to live your daily life, day in and day out, with these demeaning racial
images, insults, and invalidations hurtled at you in the form of racial microag-
gressions. In fact, it is not surprising that studies on racial microaggressions
directed toward African Americans have revealed themes or hidden messages
that follow many of these beliefs: assumption of intellectual inferiority, second -
class citizen, assumption of criminality, assumption of inferior status, assumed
universality of the Black experience, and superiority of White cultural values/
communications styles (Sue, Nadal, et al., 2008).

Harmful Effects of Racial Microaggression toward
Black Americans
The physiological and psychological detrimental consequences of racism
toward African Americans are well documented in the professional literature
(Carter, 2007; USDHHS, 2001; Williams, Neighbors, & Jackson, 2003).

Physical Health Consequences

Racial microaggressive stress that is continuous and cumulative in nature
has damaging physical health consequences for African Americans (Clark,

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