Professors
and
people
in
power
at
the
University
of
Michigan,
in
order
for
any
of this anti-racist activism to
work, you all need to constantly
be
checking
your
privilege.
That means not telling your
students they will not succeed
because of where they are from.
Looking at you, University of
Michigan,
Residential
College
That means not castigating a
Black student on her tone and
thoughts in front of 80 of her white
peers for saying what she thinks.
And you, University of Michigan
Professor
Elisabeth
Gerber,
Ford School of Public Policy
That
means
not
ignoring
students
when
they
assert
“Black Lives Matter” in class.
And
you,
University
of
Michigan
Graduate
Student
Instructors,
ECON
330,
Ford School of Public Policy
That means inviting both the
Black woman and white woman
to your class to discuss the
pieces written in The Daily
that you list on your syllabus.
University
of
Michigan,
Professor
Blasey,
Residential
College
Do not create class activities
about race that require the
Black kids to pretend to be the
victims in horrible tragedies,
i.e., the Philando Castile trial.
I’m looking at you, University of
Michigan Associate Professor Ann
Lin, Ford School of Public Policy
That means listening to the
concerns of your students of color.
That
means,
being
more
conscious of the people who
occupy space in your classroom,
and how they occupy that space.
The
classroom
is
an
immensely
powerful
place
where
learning
about
power
and
privilege
is
central.
Be
mindful
of
how
you
choose to understand privilege.
Privilege isn’t about what you
have to go through – it’s about what
you haven’t had to go through.
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Michigan in Color
Wednesday, November 7, 2018 — 5A
How Not to be Racist: Chapter 2
Compliments and Comments
Microaggressions, also known
as the shit white people have
been doing for years but until
recently, we never had a name
for it!
Microaggressions are not an ex-
aggeration of liberal feelings.
They are an insidious and per-
vasive part of American culture
that repeatedly denigrate the
efforts and strides of people of
color and women toward equity.
Columbia University professor
Derald Wing Sue coined the
term microaggression to refer
to “brief and commonplace dai-
ly verbal, behavioral, or envi-
ronmental indignities, whether
intentional or unintentional,
that communicate hostile, de-
rogatory, or negative racial
slights and insults toward peo-
ple of color.”
A.B.
MiC Contributor
Microaggressions
Common Examples
Saying this to a person of color is
particularly demeaning.
Calling someone articulate can
be a nod toward racist ideas that
a Black person isexceptional for
being well-spoken, whereas it is
expected and normal for white
people to be.
It’s rude to assume someone
isn’t from where they tell you
they’re from just because they
don’t look like you.
A wealth of research suggests
that people with difficult-to-
pronounce names have a harder
time finding work and are
considered less likable. When
you ask someone their name,
don’t judge it. Try to learn it.
You can say Tchaikovsky and
Rachmaninoff.
Maybe
you
should try unpacking your
white supremacy instead of
enforcing it on other people.
“Wow, is that your real hair?” / “You mean you don’t wash
your hair every day?”/ “So do you take those out at night?
”/ “Like how do you wash your hair?”
Damn, Becky! Mind your own
damn business! Please be
mindful of your comments.
Nobody likes to be perceived
as weird, exotic or strange.
Never ask someone why they
wear something — whether
it’s a hijab or hair extensions.
Let them live.
You probably sound racist/
homophobic/sexist. If you have
to preface a statement with
saying you don’t want to sound
a certain way, it’s probably
because you’re about to sound
that way.
See above.
“I went to the beach the entire weekend
and look, I’m almost as dark as you!”
This is not a compliment. I am
not ashamed of my race, and
there is nothing of which to be
ashamed for identifying with
one race or another. There
are good and bad people of all
races.
“You all” / “You go, girl” / “Yo,” “Word” and “What Up”
as an introduction whenever you’re greeting your
Black peers / saying phrases that end with the term
“girlfriend” when you’re not referencing a woman
you’re dating
“All Lives Matter – not
just Black people.”
Saying All Lives Matter is like
saying all diseases matter at a
breast cancer rally.
All Black people do not do the
same things.
“I have a white coworker who dates Black men. She
and her boyfriend at the time were having issues.
So, she was venting to me about him and called him
a nigger. Nigger this. Nigger that. After regaining my
composure, I asked her why she think it’s OK to say
nigger in my presence. She replied that she should
get a pass because she acts Black, dates Black and
considers herself Black.”
Stereotyping Black women as
sassy is bad. It is damaging to
Black women, and can even
lead Black women to have
health issues, despite them
telling the truth.
The hell I do. “My African-
American over here”?
“Shithole countries”? Bitch,
please.
If you need to know why calling a
Black girl “pretty” is wrong, read
Mic’s article “9 Things Everyone
Needs to Stop Saying to Black
Women Immediately.”
“You should join our company basketball
team.” (They’ve never seen you play.)
“Are you real Black?”
“Are both of your parents
Black?”
For the record, most Black
people in America are mixed
with something.
Cultural Appropriation
Cultural appropriation isn’t a
fuzzy line.
It isn’t hard to discern. It’s
quite simple.
Cultural appropriation is the
adoption of elements of a
minority culture by members
of the dominant culture.
* White people who go to all
white fraternity parties and play
all Black music.
* White people adopting AAVE
to sound funny or “urban” (also
known as Ebonics).
* White people wearing dread-
locks.
* White people wearing
mockery of a traditional
cultural dress without
expressed permission or
cultural exchange from a
member of that culture.
* White people profiting off of
culture without a meaningful
exchange and understanding of
privilege and power.
Examples Include
Hey, Karen. I Just wanted
you to know you might want to
change your Halloween costume
from Pocahontas to basic bitch.
Please
stop
doing
problematic
things.
It’s annoying and I’m tired
of writing articles about it.
Cultural appropriation turns
cultural elements into a costume.
It often goes unchecked in
beauty. Culture is erased and
belittled.
The
repackaging
of
products
as
“cool”
or
“trendy”
marginalizes
those
whose
culture
to
which
they belong. Think of Kylie
Jenner’s
“birthday
braids”
making
headlines,
even
though
they’re
the
same
cornrows that have been worn
by Black women for ages.
Or the idea of laying baby
hairs, even though it’s been
a staple of Black hairdos for
ages. Or the use of bindis as
a “trendy” culture. Or the
adoption of Tibetan Buddhism
by mainstream, middle class
Han Chinese folk to seem
cool. Or the trend of the large
beauty supply earrings for $2
that were sold in H&M for $20.
This trend is nefarious when
the cultural appropriation is
used for profit, which is why it
may
soon
become
illegal.
Blackface and a short history
Ah, blackface. Old buddy,
old pal.
We haven’t seen you in a
while…Oh, wait. That was
last year.
Blackface is wrong.
It’s not funny. It’s not cool.
It’s not quirky.
It’s just racist.
So:
From minstrel shows, to
golliwogs,
to
scientific
racism –
Blackface is used to make
fun of and demean Black
people.
Just don’t do it. It’s not that
hard.
PHOTO COURTESY OF A.B
Last semester, a University of Michigan student posted this
Snapchat.
Halloween Costumes
How to not be racist: Chapter 3
“Devil’s
Advocate”
and
“All sides of the argument”
Chad,
nobody
wants
to
hear you say, “Well, if I was a
slave owner, I would be mad
my
property
is
gone
too!”
Devil’s
advocate
can
be
used as a tool to know what
traditionally
racist
and
bigoted
people
would
say.
But please don’t say “If I were”
to things and then say a sentiment
of things that are vehemently
repulsive, or actively threatens
the livelihood of people of color.
My life is more important
than your shitty hypothetical
attempt to devalue my life.
Classroom Etiquette
Power Dynamics: Voices in the Room
Recognizing
power
and
privilege in a room is absolutely
paramount
to
having
more
fruitful discussion and discourse.
Meaning, you should step back
for a second when you’re in the
classroom talking about racism.
Listen to the people of color
in the room. The Indigenous,
Black
and
Brown
voices.
Acknowledge
how
you
move throughout the world
and
your
experiences.
“There is nothing glamorous
about
being
subjected
to
racism, and certainly no social
rewards to be reaped from being
the victim of oppression in a
society that heaps disadvantage
on
historically
marginalized
groups,” Atlantic journalist Simba
Runyowa wrotein an article
about
microaggressions.
“So
why would people willingly
designate themselves as victims
if they do not truly feel that way?
The only people who benefit
from oppression are the ones
who are exempt from it — not
the ones who suffer through it.”
Do not talk over women. Do
not talk over women of color.
Do not talk over people of
color when they try to speak
about
their
experiences,
no
matter how “offended” you feel.
This
country
would
benefit
from
a
lot
of
listening. Please try to do so.
Professors, and People in Power
What is the purpose of saying this? Why are you using your
perceived darkness as a lighthearted comment to compare
to your whiteness? Newsflash, you can’t wash my Black off.
It’s different.
Not all Black people play basketball.
Stereotyping is wrong.
Stop with the foolishness. Do not try to use African-
American Vernacular English as comedic relief.
It’s not your culture, stop saying that shit. I don’t over
exaggerate my code switching/white accent when I’m
talking to you.
Not that it’s any of your business, but we can go various amounts
of time without washing our hair because not all of us get greasy
and nasty.
Asking people of color if their hair is real is intrusive and rude.
This is especially rude because there’s a long history of oppress-
ing women of color in public spaces like schools and offices for
wearing their hair naturally.
“You’re so articulate.”
“Why do you wear that
(insert item)?”
“I don’t want to sound
racist/homophobic/sexist
but …”
Any phrase starting with
“So, do Black people …”
“Your name is
impossible to pronounce!”
“No, where are
you really from?”
“You’re different, not
like them, the other
ones …”
“I want you to be nice
today… not sassy.”
“You have to
understand Trump.”
“You’re the prettiest black
girl I’ve ever seen.”
“Not to make it a
race/gay/gender thing
but …”
Read more at
MichiganDaily.com