The Smith Microaggressions Project

The Smith Microaggressions Project is an initiative of the Smith College SGA Diversity Committee. A microaggression is a brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignity, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicates a hostile, derogatory, or negative slight or insult toward people of non-dominant identities. Microaggressions are symptomatic of a larger culture of pervasive stereotypes and manifestations of privilege. We recognize that these occur at Smith as well as in the broader world. We are here to make visible these daily indignities and offer ways to avert these situations and engage in critical thought. If you have experienced a microaggression while at Smith, we encourage you to submit.

[neoliberalismkills]

A spoken word poem on hipster racism, whiteness, white privilege, cultural appropriation, and micro aggression. It’s fucking amazingly done.

[theymerb]

I will forever reblog this every time I see it.

[abagond-deactivated20181204]

Kai Davis and Safi Niara – Brave New Voices 2012 – Philadelphia Round Two

Your horn-rimmed glasses, Sweater hoodies, Vintage leather oxfords, Authentic woven Guatemalan bookbags, And your crafty, handmade, wooden iPhone cases, Tell me you are none other than a self-affirming, Self-satisfying, Self-righteous, DOUCHE.

Dear dirty hipsters, It’s bad enough, I see you every day on the same corner of the park, Smelling of week old piss, Jammin’ with some dope Rastafarian drummers, Dancing–off–beat, Bein’ all integrated and shit, Hugging trees and smoking them in the same breath, … hair dreadfully resembling locks Acting like you’re down because you say “fuck the system!” but in the same breath, are quick to gentrify the hell outta my hood!

When you call them on it, they say things like “I don’t see color,” “Oh my god, I didn’t even know you were black until just now.” What you meant to say was, “oh, I’m choosing to deny your personal identity and heritage in order to make me feel more comfortable.” “I’m comfortable enough to say ‘nigga’ with my black friends, and by the way, I have black friends.” They’re quick to suck a culture–appreciated, appropriated– Act like it’s an act of love and solidarity, when really you just turn it into organic, alternative, indie, vomit.

“Yeah, I listen to rap music–I love A Tribe Called Quest.” And this is the part where me and my homies give you the side eye. Why do you think that’s okay? You don’t get cool points because you’re 13% “Native American.” You don’t get points for slumming it in the hood when you still clutch your purse every time you walk past a black man, when your privilege is still the most prominent thing about you. And butchering African songs, buy yourself Indian garb, “is that racist?” Yes, it is. And we don’t mean to offend you by calling you racist, We know that according to you, we’re all a part of the “human race.” But you have the tendency to treat animals better than humans. We know you hipsters like cats with ironic pet names, like Ernest Hemingway, or Zooey Deschanel. I just hope to God you don’t feed it meatless, gluten-free, toxin free… kibbles and bits, When you know DAMN WELL YOUR CAT DON’T LIKE THAT SHIT!

You’re as intolerable as an Odd Future lullaby. We don’t need to hear your feelings about OUR ISSUES!

“To be fair, as a white person–“ Nuh nuh nuh, SHUT THE FUCK UP!

You’re constantly biting at our ears with unwanted opinions, you’re blogging Tumblr posts concerning your liberal perspective. Not to mention your ability to multiply, gathering followers in every second hand bookstore, leafing through anarchist literature, claiming you’re an activist– KONY 2012!

Walking past the poverty in your own city towards a donation box for mythical African children, because all that continent needs is another ivory savior who’s convinced Africa is a country. …

I’d rather eat my own face, chew raw venison, Than listen to you tell the same story about how you don’t listen to CD’s because you’re strictly vinyl. I’m sure these points will fly above your ninety dollar haircut, Designed specifically to make you look like a vagabond. And I’ll walk down the street and see another one of you. Crank up your dubstep mixtape, Sip on your raspberry seltzer water.

I’ll call you a douche, You’ll call me “reverse-racist,” Then hopefully you’ll cry hipster tears of sorrow, Sauntering towards the next removable trend, so when the suburbs call, you can answer properly, Just as long as it still affirms your individuality– Because being cool, while not being cool, is almost as cool as being yourself.

—

Devyn Manibo, New Media Intern

[ladybrun-deactivated20130421]

As Desi women, many of us have spent our entire lives being mocked for our culture and ethnicity, sometimes to the point where we are left with depression, self hatred and a crippling lack of self esteem. And now you want to take away pieces of it and enjoy it when you haven’t dealt with a...

[veganparty]

So why can’t I wear it?

Headdresses promote stereotyping of Native cultures.

The image of a warbonnet and warpaint wearing Indian is one that has been created and perpetuated by Hollywood  and only bears minimal resemblance to traditional regalia of Plains tribes. It furthers the stereotype that Native peoples are one monolithic culture, when in fact there are 500+ distinct tribes with their own cultures. It also places Native people in the historic past, as something that cannot exist in modern society. We don’t walk around in ceremonial attire everyday, but we still exist and are still Native.

Headdresses, feathers, and warbonnets have deep spiritual significance. The wearing of feathers and warbonnets in Native communities is not a fashion choice. Eagle feathers are presented as symbols of honor and respect and have to be earned. Some communities give them to children when they become adults through special ceremonies, others present the feathers as a way of commemorating an act or event of deep significance. Warbonnets especially are reserved for respected figures of power. The other issue is that warbonnets are reserved for men in Native communities, and nearly all of these pictures show women sporting the headdresses. I can’t read it as an act of feminism or subverting the patriarchal society, it’s an act of utter disrespect for the origins of the practice. (see my post on sweatlodges for more on the misinterpretation of the role of women). This is just as bad as running around in a pope hat and a bikini, or a Sikh turban cause it’s “cute”.  

It’s just like wearing blackface. “Playing Indian” has a long history in the United States, all the way back to those original tea partiers in Boston, and in no way is it better than minstral shows or dressing up in blackface. You are pretending to be a race that you are not, and are drawing upon stereotypes to do so. Like my first point said, you’re collapsing distinct cultures, and in doing so, you’re asserting your power over them. Which leads me to the next issue.

There is a history of genocide and colonialism involved that continues today. By the sheer fact that you live in the United States you are benefiting from the history of genocide and continued colonialism of Native peoples. That land you’re standing on? Indian land. Taken illegally so your ancestor who came to the US could buy it and live off it, gaining valuable capital (both monetary and cultural) that passed down through the generations to you. Have I benefited as well, given I was raised in a white, suburban community? yes. absolutely. but by dismissing and minimizing the continued subordination and oppression of Natives in the US by donning your headdress, you are contributing to the culture of power that continues the cycle today.

But I don’t mean it in that way, I just think it’s cute!

Well hopefully I’ve illuminated that there’s more at play here than just a “cute” fashion choice. Sorry for taking away your ignorance defense. 

But I consider it honoring to Native Americans!

I think that this cartoon is a proper answer, but I’ll add that having a drunken girl wearing a headdress and a bikini dancing at an outdoor concert does not honor me. I remember reading somewhere that it was also “honoring the fine craftsmanship of Native Americans”. Those costume shop chicken feather headdresses aren’t honoring Native craftsmanship. And you will be very hard pressed to find a Native artist who is closely tied to their community making headdresses for sale. See the point about their sacredness and significance.

I’m just wearing it because it’s “ironic”!

I’m all for irony. Finger mustaches, PBR, kanye glasses, old timey facial hair, 80’s spandex—fine, funny, a bit over-played, but ironic, I guess. Appropriating someone’s culture and cavorting around town in your skinny jeans with a feathered headdress, moccasins, and turquoise jewelry in an attempt to be ‘counterculture’? Not ironic. If you’re okay with being a walking representative of 500+ years of colonialism and racism, or don’t mind perpetuating the stereotypes that we as Native people have been fighting against for just as long, by all means, go for it. But by embracing the current tribal trends you aren’t asserting yourself as an individual, you are situating yourself in a culture of power that continues to oppress Native peoples in the US. And really, if everyone is doing it, doesn’t that take away from the irony? am I missing the point on the irony? maybe. how is this even ironic? I’m starting to confuse myself. but it’s still not a defense.

Stop getting so defensive, it’s seriously just fashion!

Did you read anything I just wrote? It’s not “just” fashion. There is a lot more at play here. This is a matter of power and who has the right to represent my culture. (I also enjoy asking myself questions that elicit snarky answers.) 

What about the bigger issues in Indian Country? Poverty, suicide rates, lack of resources, disease, etc? Aren’t those more important that hipster headdresses?

Yes, absolutely. But, I’ll paraphrase Jess Yee in this post, and say these are very real issues and challenges in our communities, but when the only images of Natives that Americans see are incorrect, and place Natives in the historic past, it erases our current presence, and makes it impossible for the current issues to exist in the collective American consciousness. Our cultures and lives are something that only exist in movies or in the past, not today. So it’s a cycle, and in order to break that cycle, we need to question and interrogate the stereotypes and images that erase our current presence—while we simultaneously tackle the pressing issues in Indian Country. They’re closely linked, and at least this is a place to start.   

Well then, Miss Cultural Appropriation Police, what CAN I wear?

If you choose to wear something Native, buy it from a Native. There are federal laws that protect Native artists and craftspeople who make genuine jewelry, art, etc. (see info here about The Indian Arts and Crafts Act). Anything you buy should have a label that says “Indian made” or “Native made”. Talk to the artist. find out where they’re from. Be diligent. Don’t go out in a full “costume”. It’s ok to have on some beaded earrings or a turquoise ring, but don’t march down the street wearing a feather, with loaded on jewelry, and a ribbon shirt. Ask yourself: if you ran into a Native person, would you feel embarrassed or feel the need to justify yourself? As commenter Bree pointed out, it’s ok to own a shirt with kimono sleeves, but you wouldn’t go out wearing full kabuki makeup to a bar. Just take a minute to question your sartorial choices before you go out.       

…and an editorial comment:  I should also note that I have absolutely nothing against hipsters. In fact, some would argue I have hipster-leaning tendencies. In my former San Francisco life, had been known to have a drink or two in the clouds of smoke outside at Zeitgeist, and enjoyed shopping on Haight street. I enjoy drinking PBR out of the can when I go to the dive bars near my apartment where I throw darts and talk about sticking it to ‘The Man’. I own several fringed hipster scarves, more than one pair of ironic fake ray-ban wayfarers, and two plaid button downs. I’m also not trying to stereotype and say that all hipsters do/wear the above, just like not every hipster thinks it’s cool to wear a headdress. So, I don’t hate hipsters, I hate ignorance and cultural appropriation. There is a difference. Just thought I should clear that up.

[mytongueisforked]

[mycultureisnotatrend]

On Reverse Cultural Appropriation

I’ve removed myself from a lot of the cultural appropriation debates because as a person of colour, it is fucking exhausting trying to have your feelings and pain constantly invalidated by white folks.

However, I’ve been hearing way too much “well, Black people wear business suits. That’s cultural appropriation.” Or, “well, people of colour speak English.” Or, “in India, they are trying to appropriate Western culture! They have a MacDonalds.” 

Seriously, you CANNOT make these comparisons and here’s why:

I just wanted to say that things are not black and white, and things such as cultural appropriation cannot happen horizontally when power is not distributed horizontally. When we see, for example, “black people wearing business suits” vs let’s say, hipsters wearing headresses, there is a different context and a different meaning that is being produced. We need to look back at history, to context, to culture, to ideology, and to power to really understand what these things are communicating. 

Why, for example, are people of colour speaking English and wearing “western clothes?”, you may ask. In many cases, COLONIZED countries were forced to adopt the culture of the colonizer while their own culture was violently removed. Residential schools, for example, forced indigenous children to speak English, adopt christianity, and were forced to wear European clothes and adopt a European culture. Therefore, it is important to understand the history of colonialism and to understand that what you see as a parallel act of “cultural appropriation,” is really the product of colonialism. To equate those things is to deny the historical and continued violence produced by colonialism, and it is also a huge reflection of privilege. 

Forced assimilation does not equal the appropriation and the commodification of another person’s culture. Furthermore, forced assimilation does not have to be as black and white as putting people into residential schools, but it can also be an epistemic and ideologically forced assimilation such as “business suits* = a necessary uniform to gain access into the white collar workforce,” therefore, in turn, what this also produces is the idea that the “native dress” of someone else’s culture is devalued and “uncivilized.” Therefore, in order for a person of colour to have a white collar job, they must then wear a business suit.  We have the social and cultural understanding that “business suits = employment,” but we never interrogate where that comes from and what that means.

Let me just say this,

White supremacy works so that white privilege goes unnoticed. 

Hipsters wearing headresses is cultural appropriation because it is a commodification of indigenous culture. It takes something from someone else’s culture without any context or respect and turns it into something marketable and profitable. It reiterates the very techniques of colonialism by objectifying someone else’s culture and turning that culture into something available for consumption. It has the effect of making indigenous culture as something belonging to white people by turning indigenous-looking clothes into fashion accessories. It also helps to perpetuate essentializing stereotypes of what indigenous culture is by removing indigenous clothing from its historical specificity and context. 

I think that people get so defensive about being called out on those things like this because it threatens their sense of entitlement. Colonialism is about feeling entitled to every space (regardless if it is yours). It works the same with culture.

It is important to think about how privileged it is to dress “Native” or “Asian” or “African” in order to look fashionable, when folks who are Indigenous, Asian, or African were murdered because they looked and dressed different, because they were “other” than white, and because their cultures were deemed as “uncivilized” (which, was often a claim used to legitmize their colonisation). You have the agency to “try on” those cultures, whereas other groups of people were forced to adopt another culture (while still being discriminated against because regardless of how they speak or what they wear, they still aren’t the right skin colour). How is that equal? How is this the same?

So seriously, check your privilege before making stupid arguments such as “well, Indigenous people speak English…” It’s not productive to feel guilty, but it’s not productive to pretend that those power dynamics don’t exist either. 

*I’m just using this as an example because someone else made that comparison.

If I had a dime for how many times I’ve had “stop speaking English” dropped into my Ask box by an anon, I’d be a rich woman.  This was spectacular. It can never be said enough.  Thanks to “Meow” for bringing this to my attention!

PS: A recent anon hatemail I received - apparently I’m a threat to “everyone who cherishes diversity” according to all of the people they know. If that’s their definition of diversity, you better bet I’m a threat.

Stop speaking English! It’s a European thing! Stop wearing jeans! It’s another European thing! Stop listening to jazz or rock and roll! That belongs to the African Americans. Globalization has allowed all cultures to share their wealth. Although cultures can be belittled by the media, they can also be celebrated. You see someone wanting to buy a headdress as offensive to your culture, but could it be that they are proud to show that they support your culture? Next time you post something, declaring how racist all of the white people of the world are, consider what their true intentions are. If you ignore the value many place one diversity, you ignore everything toward which civil rights leaders have worked. You are not the only one whose culture is being used to sell commodities, so please don’t act like it. The people with whom I have shared this and I agree that it is offensive to everyone who cherishes diversity, so please realize the value of your words.

[theastrolibrarian-blog]

And this one… *headdesk*

[vasunarchive]

This is a resource post for all the Good White Person™s out there. You know, the ones who say things like “It’s not my fault I’m white! Don’t generalize white people!”, or “I’m appreciating your culture! You should be proud!”, or “Why do you hate all white people, look I’m a special snowflake who’s not racist give me an award for meeting the minimum requirements for being a decent human being”. Well, if you are actually interested in understanding racism and how it ties into cultural appropriation, please read instead of endlessly badgering PoCs on tumblr with your cliched, unoriginal arguments and repeating the same questions over and over.

On White Privilege aka don’t blame me just because I’m white:

It’s Not My Fault I Was Born White: Basics of White Privilege x

Racial Divide x

Endless Examples of White Privilege x

You Cannot Know What It’s Like To Be A Racial Minority x

Intersectional Feminism x

White Privilege Does Not Mean White People Have Perfect Lives x

White Privilege and White Supremacy: A Presentation x

You Will Never Experience Racism x

Understanding White Privilege x

White Privilege and Double Standards x

Systematic White Ignorance x

The Invisibility of White Privilege x

The Luxury of White Privilege x

White Privilege: The Harry Potter Analogy x

Privilege Denial Bingo x

Privilege and Cost x

Check Your Privilege 101 x

Whiteness x

Whiteness is Not A Culture x

White Privilege and Racism x

Deeply Embarrassed White People Talk About Race x

When White Anti Racists Talk About ~Their Struggle~ x

White Privilege As A System x

On Reverse Racism aka you are being racist against white people:

Are White People Racially Oppressed x

White People, the new Racial Minority x

People Don’t Value Pale Skin!! x

There Is No Such Thing As Reverse Racism x

Racism vs. Not Racism x

But White People Are Discriminated Against In Foreign Countries x

The Myth of Reverse Racism: Why Cracker is Not N**** x

Satire: A Step Wise Guide on Being Reverse Racist x

Racism Against White People vs. Racism Against POCs x

On Cultural Appropriation aka I’m just appreciating your culture:

The Basics x

Identifying Appropriation x

But When We Wear It … x

Why Can’t I Wear It (Hipster Headdresses) x

Not Yours x

If You Take The Bindi x

White People Do It Better x

Multiculturalism and Appropriation x

Cultural Appropriation and Portrayals In Print Media x

Diminishing the Cultural Significance of the Bindi x

The Cultural Appropriation Bingo x

Why We’re Fed Up of Your Responses x

Identities Are Not Costumes x

Hinduism And Appropriation x

Religion and Privilege x

Bindis Are Cool x

Exotic India x

What’s Wrong With Cultural Appropriation x

Racism, Bindis and Ganesh Tattoos x

BUT YOU’RE SPEAKING ENGLISH! x

Cultural Appropriation Trolls x

Guide to Being An Appropriating Douchefuck x

New Age ~Culture Mixing~ x

In case you’re tired of the prose, here’s poetry x

Why You Shouldn’t Wear A Bindi x

Appropriating and Sharing x

Our Culture is A Punchline Until It’s a Trend x

Homage Or Insult x

Tattoos and Appropriation x

Bollywood is Not Synonymous With Indian x

College Party Costumes and Stereotypes x

Dotheads x

Bindis and Racist Humour x

Hindu Iconography x 

Misuse of Hindu Iconography x

Your Appreciation Doesn’t Help Us x

Assorted Vials of White Tears and Miscellaneous Antidotes aka I can’t change that I’m white/not all whites are racist/we are all humans:

Unoriginal Arguments Refuted x

Quick Checklist: You Might Be Racist If x

Your Opinion Isn’t Necessary x

I’m Not Responsible For My Ancestors x

The Kumbayah Myth x

Proud to Be White x

Good White Person x

We Don’t Hate White People x

Brutality of Colonialism And Why You Can’t Tell Us To Forget the Past x

People Who Claim Not To See Race Are More Likely to Be Racist x

All Races are Beautiful Said the White Girl x 

Race Blindness Is A Luxury x

Well, You’re Racist For Calling Me Racist x

I’ve Read About Its Significance, I Know What It Means

Angry Because Someone Called You Racist x

We’re Not All Like That x

People Only Care About This Trivial Shit On The Internet x

I Can’t Apologize for Being Born White, It’s Not My Fault x

Why Can’t You Tell Me What I’m Doing Wrong x

It’s Easy to Be Color Blind When You’re White x

A Diagrammatic Guide To White Tears x

Conversations I’m Sick Of Having With White People x

Why Do You Hate White People x

I’m Trying To Be Cultured x

Sisyphean Conundrum x

What is Your Problem x

We Are All Human, We All Bleed Red x

It’s Just A Bindi x

How Not To Respond To Accusations of Racism x

I’m Italian And 0.009% Native American x

What White People Think Racism Means: A Venn Diagram x

White Guilt x

White Pride!!!111!!! x

I Like *Insert Foreign Country* I Want To Live There x

You Have So Much Hate, Fighting Fire With Fire Won’t Help x

BooHoo, Don’t Call Me Racist x

Not Everything Ended With Your Ancestors x

The Racist Reaction x

I Don’t See Why That Is Racist x

Crummy Apologies x

Okay. I agree. I’ve been socially conditioned not to notice racism and recognize my privilege. What can I do?

Listen x

A Step Wise Guide x

I don’t care about this bullshit; you’re making a big deal out of nothing, go home and delete your blog:

The Clueless White Person Bus x

[silentscrutiny-blog-blog]

because i want this on my tumblr for easy access.

[mytongueisforked]

Ermm.. So, some of y’all should read this shit.

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

This was a submission we got but we're not sure if this is a microaggression or not.

Help?

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

At Smith College should a Republican be considered a person of "non-dominant" identity?

"Dominant" identities in social justice terminology does not only literally refer to a higher number of people with that identity. It also implies that dominant identities correlate to a history of power and privilege that gets carried into any space whether they are the majority in a given space or not. 

Additionally, republican/democrat dichotomies are not necessarily correlated to privilege nor oppression in the same way that race, class, sex, ableism, etc, is systematically oppressed in society.  

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

Who coined the term 'microaggression'? How is it different from just being disrespectful of a person in a variety of situations? How is it different from basic racism, sexism, transphobia, etc?

Chester Middlebrook Pierce, in 1970 coined the term 'microaggression' to signify the idea that specific interactions between those of different races, cultures, or genders can be interpreted as mostly non-physical aggression. 

Microaggression are the small acts, the small 'non-physical aggressions' that are the product of and work to reinforce systems of inequality, such as racism, sexism, etc. So while they are not necessarily different, microaggressions is an all-encompassing word to give a name to those acts/words/etc that attack and promote hate against a person's identity. 

[thisismyancientblog]

smith.jpg

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

"Yesterday's microaggression: a large group of white women criticizing Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's "Decolonizing the Mind" because everyone should be reading "great works of literature" that speak "universal truths", instead of literature that, for whatever reason, they find relevant to their own lives. Bonus points for a seeming total unawareness of their own whiteness and for dominating the conversation."

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

In a class discussion about racial visibility, a student racially profiled a friend of mine, guessing her ethnicity in a very flippant way. Neither the professor or I caller her out on it. Not only the act itself, but everyone else's failure to do something about it is a microaggression to me.

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

Dude, if you're a guy then you can't be a lesbian.

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

"Smithies are, like, amazing women! And also 'womyn' with a y (after several seconds of awkward silence from the group)."

Womyn: "Nonstandard spelling of "women" sdopted by some feminists in order to avoid the word ending -men."

"Womyn" is NOT an inclusive term. This person, completely ignored the existence of trans* men at Smith with this statement. Maybe it was an unfortunate mistake? If so, it's scary that somebody who claims to know so much about gender identity and sexuality made such a fundamental mistake.

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

"You're not Hispanic, you're white"

[overheardatsmith-blog]

Overheard in Wilson

my best friends getting deported, wouldn’t that be so funny to say?

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

Definitely a microaggression.

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

"The problem [of the 'obesity epidemic'] now comes down to self-control rather than consumer ignorance."

Assumes that being fat is a contagious "epidemic," assumes that being fat is a "problem," assumes that being fat is the result of lack of "self-control" regarding food, assumes that fat people should answer to thin people, inscribes morality into bodily status and bodily choices.

[smithmicroaggressions-blog]

"It's okay for you to be fat because you're latina and guys like it when latina girls are fat."