In New Kid, Jordan Banks discovers that life as a Black student at an elite, mostly white private school involves almost daily encounters with people who make comments or actions that reveal prejudice toward him and other racial minorities. Known as microaggressions, these instances of prejudiced behavior and speech are often subtle and not consciously or intentionally expressed.
Coined in the 1970s by Chester M. Pierce, a Black psychiatrist and Harvard professor, the term microaggression is used to label what can be for marginalized people daily reminders of their status as an "other." Common examples of microaggressions within the United States include Americans of Asian descent being complimented on their English because someone assumes it is not their first language, white people flinching when they notice a Black man near them because racial stereotypes have taught them to fear Black men, or store owners following Black customers down aisles because they assume they will steal if not watched.
Although microaggressions lack the overt and intentional violence of the bigotry spread by hate groups, microaggressions are characterized by the insidious effects they can have on people. Derald W. Sue, a psychologist, revived the term in 2007 in academic circles. By 2014, Sue was publicly discussing how the term had proliferated online, where many people used it to describe daily frustrations that can add up to serious mental health problems. Sue has said that because microaggressions are carried out by ordinary people who are unaware of their implicit biases—such as employers, professors, and colleagues—microaggressions are more likely to affect a marginalized person's standard of living because they encounter this type of casual racism so often.
Microaggressions can prove difficult to address. Because the comments or behaviors are by nature subtle and usually not intentional provocations, people may defend or deny their behavior and accuse anyone offended of being overly sensitive or politically correct. For those who want to avoid perpetrating microaggressions, Sue recommends looking honestly at your own biases, being open to discussing how you might have hurt another, and seeking interaction with people different from you.
