| Description |
Microaggressions are brief and often unintentional daily acts that communicate insults or negative messages to marginalized individuals or groups. Most research on microaggressions comes from psychology and higher education and focuses on the interpersonal effects of the target of the microaggression. Additionally, the research focuses predominantly on racial microaggressions. This qualitative study focused on microaggressions targeted at Black, homeless males, in order to explore the societal effects of these acts. Using narrative analysis, this study examined the articles, images, and comments related to three homeless Black males whose stories went viral. In this project, I examined 48 news articles, 25 videos and images, and 1,764 comments from NPR.org, theGrio.com, and USAToday.com. Utilizing the typology of microaggressions outlined by Sue, Capodilupo, Torino, Bucceri, Holder, Nadal, and Esquilin as a framework, this project identified ten themes of microaggressions: 1) Waging stereotypical attack, 2) Assertion of violence, 3) Second-class citizen, 4) Intellectual inferiority, 5) Ascription of exceptionalism, 6) Decentering the subject, 7) Assumption of criminality/deviance, 8) Significant absences, 9) Divine assistance, and 10) Assumption of sameness. More significant is that when these themes are examined together they begin to alter the narrative resulting in the emergence of stereotypes historically associated with Black people: minstrelsy, the coon caricature, and the Uncle Tom. This research finds that no matter one’s intentions, social conditioning instills within each of us ideas, beliefs, and stereotypes outside our awareness. So, while many individuals consciously endorse equality, on an unconscious level they act in ways that impede equality. It is clear through the stories, comments, and videos that we are not postracial. This finding is significant with the current political administration appearing to support conservative White nationalism. These findings can help those who challenge these policies by recognizing how they may inadvertently support the White, male, dominant hegemonic order so that they can create positive change. Additionally, these results can provide education and guidance to the media and its consumers to become more critical producers and consumers of the media. |
