Matthew Boddewyn - Microagressions

The weight of racially charged microagressions is very real. People have come accustomed to use these hurtful and offensive phrases without realizing their impact. Racial microagressions and purposeful racial insults are really very similar in how they impact people as both have similar connotations although one is intentional while the other is not. Saying a racial comment in a joking way can really hurt someone if they do not feel that it is a joke. Microagressions are rarely meant to hurt anyone but the fact is they can still hit a sensative nerve in someone that crosses the line between a joke and a hurtful comment. No one really ever means to be racist when they say a racist comment as a joke but because current society has been so exposed to social media like Vine and Facebook, making fun of someone's race has been common and to some extent 'O.K.'. The line between hypersensativity and a real offense has become somewhat grey because of this as some will find a joke funny while other will find the comment rude. To take out all racial comments would be to take one small, yet crucial, step towards ending racism. The fact that some might find a comment offensive means that no one should use that comment so that those who are hurt by it never have to experience it. People have come to be so 'loose' with the comments they make with one group of friends who is not offended by them, that they will make them with people who are affected by it and because it is not meant to be offensive, they will not realize that it is hurtful. Raising awareness is the easiest step to stop people from making bad jokes that can really hurt and realizing that racially charged microagressions carry a very real weight.