Willamette Microaggressions

"Not unto ourselves alone are we born."The lived experiences featured on this blog are testimonies -- "proof" that our community has work to do if we are to consider our campus a truly welcoming and inclusive place. This page was created to give strength, education, and empowerment to members of our community. Both the target and the perpetrator of the microaggression will remain anonymous in order to target ideas, not people. These experiences are not isolated incidents, but rather are manifestations of larger structural inequalities. If you see, hear, or otherwise experience racism, sexism, cissexism, trans*phobia, heterosexism, homophobia, queerphobia, sizeism, ableism, Islamophobia, nativism, classism, anti-Semitism etc., please use the submission link above. Email submissions are also welcome at [email protected]. This blog is centered around the experiences of marginalized peoples on Willamette University's campus. This blog is moderated. Feedback is welcome, but hateful submissions/comments will NOT be published.Stay tuned for more extensive Resources and FAQ pages. Thank you to Oberlin's sister page for the inspiration.What are microaggressions?Intent vs. Impact (video)To report an incident of BIAS (form)

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A student in my english class called a slave narrative a “shit happens” story because it did not have a finite resolution for any of the characters  (he only mentioned the white one). He was disappointed that it didnt have a clean and simple finish because it apparently that doesn’t teach any lesson.

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When I told one of my friends I was not born in the mainland, he gave me a look of surprise and said, “So what are you?” I was bothered by the question, because instead of asking what race or ethnicity I identify with, he asked me WHAT I was. The fact that I wasn’t born here doesn’t make me any less of a person, it doesn’t make me ‘what.’

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"i bet you eat a lot of asian food at home then, what?"

i am open about where my ancestors originate and i’m glad to say that i’m proud of where i come from.But when i tell them that i’m half asian and half white, they automatically suspect that i live in an asian family, with asian food. Thats not the case and i acutally live in a white family lifestyle, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! 

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The question "What are you?" when being asked my ethnic background.

The term “what” objectifies an individual when being asked of their race.”What are you?” “I am a human. aren’t you?”

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Not matching

Context: I have light brown skin, but I’m not unmistaken for an African American.

Me: Hey! Neighbor: I saw you at the play tonight! Was that your step-mother you were with? Me: No. Thinking that this had ended the conversation. Neighbor: Your guardian? Me: No. Neighbor: Your aunt? Me: No. My mother is white. Neighbor: Oh, okay.

I would never tell my peach skinned, light brown haired, and blue eyed mother this ever happened to me.

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Race for Money

"Why are there some many scholarships just for black people? Other people can use that money too."

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Latina

I’m latina. I am human. I am American. “How does it feel to be Latina” ? Well how does it feel to be so ignorant?!

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You can speak Spanish? But you do not look Mexican, you look Indian!

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Assesing my Mexican writting abilities

"Wow, your academic writing is really good for a Mexican" said one of my peers at one of my classes last year.

Really, really! What are you trying to say? That my usage of the English language is good. No! Let’s face the truth, you are saying all the contrary.

Because if not explain me the following: Is there a Mexican academic standard that I am unaware of? Or better, you have read all publications of Mexican authors and have compared them against my own writing and you have made the empirical conclusion that I am better than other Mexican/Latino writers. Really? Because that would make me a Nobel price winner.

Honestly, what you are saying that I am an exception to my own Mexican/Latino community because you can associate my writing with my race and my community. In addition, you are telling me that you think I am good writer, but never as good you.

Well, let’s compare grades after our professor assesses our essays and see who is the one that needs help with writing.

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This coming from my White friend from an upper-middle class background when she found out she didn’t qualify for a job through the work study program:

"It’s just not fair. Why can’t I have have work study? I need spending money too!"

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An older white man on campus for some kind of convention, picking me out of a crowd of students to wish me a happy MLK week and proceed to talk about how he interviewed a black man the other day about Martin Luther Kings’ views. (Congratulations, you spoke to two whole black people this week.)

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"Where are your shoes? You tryin’ to go tribal or something?" 

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First day of class and my professor who “knows all about human development” feels the need to mock his partner’s OB.

*in racist “Asian” accent*: DADDY WANNA CUT THE CORD?

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During my freshmen year I was studying with a classmate for our math final in the library. A white male in our class came over to our table and told me: “You don’t have to study, you’re Asian.” After telling him that not all Asian Americans are good at math, he then replied with “Are you Buddhist?”

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"If you don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo you are disappointing your country."

I don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo because I choose not to. The majority of people in Mexico don't even celebrate it! why should I have to celebrate a holiday that you use as an excuse to eat Mexican food and drink Margaritas. 

#Willamette #Willamette University #racism #ignorance #White Privilege 

[4am-at-thewafflehouse]

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35 Rhums. 2008

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Some guy in my res hall had a sign on his apartment door - “No Ugly Chicks”