Awareness of Microaggressions

An example of a form of microaggression that I happen to view this week occurred a few days back when I was standing in line at the Driver’s License Facility in Belleville, Illinois to get a sticker renewal. The lady that was in front of me needed to have her address changed on her license, but failed to have the three proper identifications needed for this process to happen. The lady was disable and she slowly walked with a cane. The lady failed to bring two bills from the new address that she needed to reflect on her license. She only had one along with the lease. The lady insisted on being able to have this process done without two bills because she had her lease. The receptionists was clearly irritated because I saw her she sigh more than once, looking over the facility for another staff member, with a rude look on her face. She did not like that the lady challenged her with her knowledge of knowing that it could be accomplished. She was right, it was accomplished. The receptionists then turned to her colleague and began to discuss the nerve of the lady to talk to her as if she was her boss, but the lady was just stating her knowledge. The receptionist was so loud that everyone that was around heard her. The lady that knew that she could have her address changed looked at the receptionists and said, “Excuse me”. The receptionist ignored her and smiled at the next customer saying, “May I help you.” The other customers by me were saying how rude the receptionist was to because she was talking about the lady. I was hurt for the lady and I felt the dehumanization as well. She could not handle being wrong to the older disable woman that was clearly the same race as her, white. The form of microaggresion that I figured this case to be was the disability microaggression. The lady needing the services was clearly poor and had on clothes that were not so clean. I also felt that the receptionist did not want to work help her because of this reason. I don’t know if the receptionist was just upset due to the lady’s demand or if she was ashamed that a member from her culture was disable and dirty. I thought about the way that the lady felt, but she picked up on the microaggression from the receptionist. Our world needs to understand how hidden biases can be revealing to the eye of others, if not that person that is being targeted.

Changes In My Environment

A disaster has occurred in my country that causes me and my family to move to a different country. I have to evacuate and adapt to this different location that is very different from my own country. I think that I will be able to adapt in a different country because of my adaptation in my own country. I was told that I could only take three items with me upon my departure. My first item my dog Smokey because she is a part of my family and my kids consider her to be their siblings, the second thing that I would take is a picture of my mother because without her help I feel that I would not be the person that I am today. Looking back at her from my child hood is the reason I am a single parent she has been my rock and a good role model. The third, although difficult to identify would be a phone to communicate my where about with others. I say that the third item to bring because I would be grateful for life alone after such disaster, I would be upset if I had to give up two items, but keeping in mind that I am alive will help me to release them. With my mother in my memory, I would hand over her picture with my family alive and safe, I would give up the phone, my dog Smokey will remain because she means so much to me and my children. This exercise has opened my eyes to fully understanding that I know that I’m able to weather the storm and stand strong for my family, I have the ability to cam plague with diversity and protect my own family. I will continue to uphold if not overestimate, my abilities on diversity.