I have had
an experience at a summer camp were we listed stereotypes about other races,
than we had to share as a group. Each group was broken down by race. At the end
of the program the room was a little heavy because it was like wow this is how
people view you simply because of your skin. It was interesting that Dr.
Derald said some people may think that if
you’re black you’re not smart, because that is what a group said about blacks.
I have
also had an experience with what I believe was a mix of racism and classism.
One day my grandmother and I went into a very expensive jewelry store and the
lady working didn’t great us but greeted those that looked as though they had
money. We walked around the store to see if the women was going to come ask us
for help but didn’t. On the way out my grandmother told her that she was rude
and shouldn’t have been because she wanted to make a purchase to replace a
piece of jewelry she had lost. The women’s face looked like all the blood had
left her face.
Temeka,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your grandmother said something to the store clerk and didn't buy anything. I guess I always thought about the type of scenario as racism, but I'm glad you also pointed out that it is also classism. I bet if your grandmother had decided to buy something, the woman would have suddenly become so friendly. I think it is great that your grandmother used this incident as a teaching moment, maybe that woman will think twice next time!
Your experience with your grandmother in the jewelry store is one of which I have experienced and one which occurs often in retail store. I was employed as a retail associate in a local clothing store from 16 to 18 years old. During my "new hire" training and ongoing employee training I and other retail associates employed within the store were trained to observe the behavior and interactions of individuals who looked, talked, and behaved in a specific manner labeled suspicious by the store manager. Although I understood the reasoning for this information, as an adult I understand that this was a form of microaggression specifically microinsult.
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