Oneysha Brown Blog Post #4

Microaggressions and other inequities will inevitably persist largely due to the dominant middle class culture of power. Discuss.

Microaggressions are the everyday verbal or nonverbal insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that target people based on their marginalized group, by communicating derogatory, hostile, or negative messages. Microaggressions often affirm stereotypes about minority groups. They are often described as “the new face of racism”. Overtime racism has changed from outwardly blunt racial hatred, to more ambiguous, subtle, and sometimes unintentional microaggressions.

 

Microaggressions exist largely because of the dominant middle class culture. It’s these people that have the largest effect on society. The dominant middle class is seen by everyone, the higher class and the lower class. Their actions and ideas have the power to change the way society views any given problem. This is because they hold just enough power, and money, in turn having enough influence, to be able to connect with the right people to lead the way for changes. However, that being said, the dominant middle class also has the power to do nothing, and can often be largely influenced by the elite upper class. Nothing will change throughout society, if those in charge and those with enough influence to make drastic change, want it to happen. Microaggressions exist because people allow them to still exist. If there is not enough awareness, and if people don't really want change, then microaggressions will inevitably persist.