The Pattern Behind Micro Aggressions

A friend of mine mentioned that a lot of the snippets of life described by Claudia Rankin are, particularly the ones involving Serena Williams, poor examples of micro aggressions because they could happen to anyone – in other words, they seem more like coincidences. It is true, Rankin diagnoses the problem behind these incidents as racial prejudice when other issues could also be at fault. But I think Rankin is pushing for us understand something a little deeper. On there own, some incidents could be luck — a bad day or a misinterpreted gesture —, but added together Rankin demonstrates the very real racism behind them and their significance to black lives.

Take, for instance, Serena’s 2009 incident with the lines umpire who called a foot-fault during the last game. On its own, the incident was not necessarily caused by a racist (conscious or subconscious) intent, but added on top of numerous incidents beforehand involving unfair calls on Serena, the pattern is indisputable. Notably, Rankin also focuses on the reaction to Serena’s outburst, noting that she finally filled the racist stereotype of an ‘angry black person.’

I think the effect of these micro aggressions is summed up beautifully in this line: “Then the voice in your head silently tells you to take your foot off your throat because just getting along shouldn’t be an ambition” (55). Micro aggressions are not on the same level as hate crimes, nor are they blatantly racist. The motivation behind them can be elusive, and so can the proper response. But one thing is certain — micro aggressions make it hard to just get along.