Microaggressions are lurking among us just waiting to spill out and offend someone, and I’ll bet you didn’t know they were there. Recognizing microaggression is the first step to eradicating them from our conversations and, more importantly, from our hearts.

Microaggressions–the word, alone is offensive. I learned about it on the Inspire Me Monday linkup, hosted by Anita Ojeda. In her article, Do You Commit Microaggressions? How to Find Out, the author has done an excellent job providing examples and explanations that made me want to explore this subject even more.

The online Urban Dictionary says, “Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership.”

This is a new word for me, one I’m both glad and sorry to learn. I am glad to be aware of the implication and sorry to have to accept the possibility that I could commit such a thing. Did you notice the word unintentional in the definition? We have both inter-racial and gay marriages in our family so I want to fully understand microaggression so that I can, in the Holy Spirit’s leading, 1) spot it and 2) appropriately address it.

According to an article in Psychology Today, “Microaggressions can be based upon any group that is marginalized in this society [including] religion, disability, and social class.”

The fact that these microaggressions can be unintentionally released is unsettling. How can we avoid hurting someone?

Proverbs 4:23  Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.  (NIV)

Eradicating microaggressions requires deep heart work

If it’s in there, it’s going to come out. The best way I know to guard one’s heart is to pray. Ask God to reveal what is in your heart and cleanse away any ugly institutional attitudes and societal overflows lurking there. The cleansing could be, probably will be, uncomfortable if not painful. I don’t want to believe that I have THAT in me but I’m willing to find out and to endure the pain.

Here’s the truth, I’m over 60. I was raised during the ’60s & ’70s during a time we now call civil unrest or rebellion. It was something I couldn’t begin to understand. Back then we called it “the riots” and there were many spanning that 20 years. It was frightening for a young person to watch on TV and hear about in our living rooms.

I’m no psychologist but it makes sense that the experiences of our youth are woven into the fabric of our adult attitudes. They frame our perspective and become the lens through which we view and navigate the world. Too few of us are just beginning to understand how cloudy that view is.

Praying for a future free from microaggressions

I’m hopeful that Millennials, Gen Z’s, Gen Xers will, eradicate microaggressions if that is even possible. I’m praying that the backward thinking root of microaggression withers away from generation to generation. But that doesn’t happen without doing the work. We must make a sincere effort now to listen and learn so we may begin to fully understand how others are hurt by our carelessness. Especially those in marginalized groups noted in the definitions above.

Once we know the truth isn’t it careless to ignore it by saying we’ll try to be more aware of our words and actions? Don’t try, do! Be the example now.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. –Psalm 19:14  (NIV)

Doesn’t knowing the truth give one the freedom to walk in it (John 8:32)? I pray that all generations will see that we don’t have to walk as we once did. Stop carrying that backward thinking into the next generation. There is a new path. Staying on the one covered over with roots and rocks of the past is a choice.

Choose to do better

Ephesians 5:6-10  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. (NASB)

Which path are you choosing today?

Ephesians 5:15-16  Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. (NASB)

I pray that we choose wisely.

Updated by the author on April 12, 2021

Resources:

Anita Ojeda. (2020, November 20). Do you Commit Microaggressions? How to find out. Retrieved November 7, 2019, from https://anitaojeda.com/do-you-commit-microaggressions-how-to-find-out/

List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States. (2021, April 12). Retrieved November 7, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_incidents_of_civil_unrest_in_the_United_States

Microaggression. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2019, from https://www.urbandictionary.com/microaggression

Wing Sue, D., Ph.D. (2010, November 17). Microaggressions: More than just race. Retrieved November 7, 2019, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/microaggressions-in-everyday-life/201011/microaggressions-more-just-race

Canva graphics, with a little help from the author.