Question

In this first reading assignment from Citizen, you've encountered a collection of microaggressions and an essay documenting the visibility of black bodies in media: specifically, Serena Williams.

Part I: Share a microaggression you've either experienced firsthand or witnessed that this reading assignment reminded you of. Explain how you felt throughout the process of the event and quote the text to apply Rankine's ideas of visibility and violence to your experience. Next, identify the source of the microaggressive act present in the experience you've described (Ex: body surface-related judgments), and determine which type of visibility violence it was (erasure or hypervisibility).

Part II: In a separate post, quote a moment from the essay on Serena Williams and explain how you see this as an injustice to Williams as an American athlete. Which part surprised/upset you the most? Interact with your classmates' posts and help develop your understanding(s) of microaggressions and their impact on the lives of common people and public figures.

Answer 1

1. An incident which I felt is an experience of microaggression was regarding my skin colour.

In our society , the black skinned people are somewhere considered to be inferior and looked down upon. They are racially discriminated , by not allowing them to enter to some places.

In workplace as well, the people who are racially discriminated for their skin colour are excluded from the benefits one can enjoy. Even they are not employed, hence remain unemployed.

People are somewhat aggressive towards the black skinned people. They are barred from every benefits people have.

2) Serena williams was referred to as ' Angry black Woman' in the US open. Balck skinned people were constantly in the face of oppresion. They were neglected by the people. They are not given respect. Howerver Serena Williams fought for this issue and even , in order to protest against it , she even left the court space . It is a sense of power for every black skinned people.

People have a regressive mind towards black skinned people. Calling her 'Angry Balck Woman ' is something which did sadden me . This reflects the mindset people have towards black skinned people.