Some may say it's tiresome to dwell on the hurt - after all there's a relentless (if artificial) drive to 'Stay Positive!' in America, to focus only on solutions - yet an essential step in the process of decolonization is hearing the painful stories of the colonized and the exploited, respectfully
and with an open heart." 
- Edgar Villaneuva
DAY SEVEN
Interpersonal Racism
 
After seeing how racism is internalized, we will now examine how these feelings can permeate into person-to-person interactions. Now that we are more knowledgeable different ways that these feelings manifest. One of the primary forms is microaggressions which we will be covering today. We hope that with increased awareness, we can take steps to minimize interpersonal racism in our daily lives.
 
Interpersonal Racism – The expression of racism between individuals. It occurs when individuals interact, and their private beliefs affect their interactionsExamples: public expressions of racial prejudice, hate, bias, and bigotry between individuals.
READ
Examples of Microaggressions (2 Minute Read)
A photographer at Fordham asked her peers to write down the microaggressions they've encountered. This is what they had to say.
 
Read the article to learn about seven types of microaggressions common in the workplace to ensure that you are correcting yourself and others in the future.
 
Common Racist Attitudes (20 Minute Read)
A list of 28 common racist attitudes and behaviors that indicate a detour or wrong turn into white guilt, denial, or defensiveness. Each is followed by a statement that is a reality check and consequence for harboring such attitudes.
LISTEN
From NPR: As the coronavirus has spread from China to other countries, anti-Asian discrimination has followed closely behind. NPR asked listeners whether they had experienced this kind of COVID-19 related racism and xenophobia firsthand.
 
Our recommended selection for today from UWPC's "Soundtrack 4 Justice" playlist
"Don't Touch My Hair" by Solange & Sampha (4:18)
WATCH
A TED Talk by Vernā Myers encourages us to work vigorously to counterbalance bias by connecting with - and learning about and from - the groups we fear.
 
Through her own personal story and the 'hair-raising' experiences of other women and girls, Mena Fombo's TEDx Bristol talk is a witty, yet compelling and sometimes dark exploration of the objectification of black women.
 
Dr. Beats by Dre delivers a gut punch with its powerful new spot. "You love Black culture, but do you love me?" it asks, against a montage of captivating scenes of Black individuals from all walks of life. In each scene, they stare straight into the camera, challenging the viewer to consider what their love for their contributions to the world actually means when Black people each day still need to fight for equality and justice.
CONNECT
Who's in your feed?
Follow Racial Justice activists, educators, organizations, and movements on social media. Consider connecting with any of the people/organizations you learn about in the daily resources.
 
Privilege to Progress - Privilege to Progress | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
PUT IT TO USE!
Engage - Register for today's Equity Conversation to share your thoughts and feelings about what you have learned so far.
 
Act - Validate others by listening closely and believing the truth and importance of what they are sharing.
 
Reflect - What are the last five books you read? What is the racial mix of the authors?
United Way of Thurston County solves complicated issues by convening community stakeholders and collaborating to develop short and long-term strategies. United Way is an excellent steward of donor dollars and is committed to transparency, accountability and sound fiscal management. United Way mobilizes the caring power of our community. Learn more: https://www.unitedway-thurston.org/