On a response to micro-aggressions I am heartily sick of
Morning Twitter, everyone doing ok? Got your coffee? Good, get a muffin and sit with me for a little bit. I wanna chat with y’all. See, there’s a thing that bugs me, quite a lot and I wanna speak on it. It’s when I share a micro-aggression & the responses I get. Without fail, someone usually white replies with oh my god, that actually happens?!
Well, I just said it happens, so yes it does. That response bothers me on a lot of levels. It shows that if something hasn’t happened to you, you simply can’t believe it happens at all. Spoiler, lots of things happen without you witnessing them and they are quite real and happen to people you may actually know! Fancy that!
Another reason the omg that happens response bothers me, is because it casts doubt on my experience. It happened, I was there. Not saying it’s intentional but that response just raises a flag in my head for people who give that response. Like ok, I’m watching you.
Last reason it bugs me because it’s always followed with a useless apology and blustery outrage on my behalf. That’s not helpful at all. Look you can’t throw doubt about thing that happened in one breath, then turn around with sorrow & anger in the next.
If you can’t imagine thing happening to you, it’s probably because of some privilege you have. Like having your hair petted like a dog, or being told you speak so well, or being mistaken for staff in a store when you are not in khakis and a red shirt.
One note on the hair thing, don’t tell me it’s the same because you long, curly, multi-coloured hair when your white. It’s not the same, also spare me the story of you having locs if you’re white, I can guarantee I will not give one single fuck.
Back to the topic though, if someone you know says X happened to me/was said to me; keep that response in your mouth. Never let oh my god that actually/happens?! Apology and impotent anger be your reponse. It’s grating as fuck when we’re already annoyed. So think before you reply, speak, reblog, etc. Also slow down on the hugs! Sorry & gif replies. Just be quiet if you have no good response.
Now I’m gonna get more coffee, wake up properly with this off my mind and get my day started. Later y’all!
