Racism is a series of acts that could stem from a singular action. It is based on judging or despising other people simply for who they are. Racist actions could be completely conscious or subconscious which is where microaggressions take place. No matter how small a singular action is, they build up over time until it gets to the point where it becomes disturbing and unbearable.
For example, imagine if you met someone who was plain ignorant and they made a racist remark towards you. That one action to them was nothing, however you will be thinking about it for years to come. That one action sparked even more racism because that person thinks it's normal and continues to make these remarks. The people around them hear and also make racist comments now. This continues amongst them as something that is normal or “just a joke”. Now innocent people are being plagued with racist experiences due to people like that.
A singular act of racism is only a small fraction of all other actions which make it so horrendous. One action is only the start of many.
Any singular racist action is extremely impactful to someone. However, soon enough there will be another action, then another, and another. Once it accumulates it continues to build up inside the affected person’s mind causing detriment to their mental health and overall wellbeing. The stress and mental pressure all these microaggressions cause continue to affect minorities in America at rapid rates. In Claudia Rankine's Citizen: An American Lyric, the topic of racism is the core of her story and concern. Within it she mentions, “If this were a domestic tragedy, and it might well be, this would be your fatal flaw--your memory, vessel of your feelings” (Section I). Racist actions never leave the affected person’s mind. Their memory causes them to feel terrible about these actions for as long as they can remember it happened. The fact that this happens is extremely saddening.
When Rankine mentions “you” throughout the book I can see myself in the encounters. Being a person of color as well, I can relate to and almost relive past memories through her words. This happens especially when she includes stories in which people avoid you, look at you strangely, or don’t want their children around you. However, an experience that surprised me when inhabited was when the speaker’s own friend made a microaggressive and racist remark. This can be seen in the time when Claudia Rankine questioned, “Haven’t you said this to a close friend who early in your friendship, when distracted, would call you by the name of her black housekeeper?” (Section I). This surprised me quite a bit, but it made me recall a time in which my fellow classmates would confuse me for someone else who was Middle Eastern although I am South Asian just because we had similar skin tones while most of the school was white.
Seeing experiences like these were so surprising because of how ridiculous it is that they occur in the first place. Racism is like a disease- it spreads rapidly and affects millions. However, with proper knowledge, preventative manners, and wanting the best for humankind, it can be reduced. If this happens then the world will start to heal and more people will feel as if they belong and are accepted for who they are. To get a cure, racism needs to be treated as seriously as it truly is in order to see results.
