- Username
- Lina
- Date posted
- 4y ago
- Username
- AnonymousAnonymous
- Date posted
- 4y ago
I was a resident advisor in college (just graduated in May!) and I’m black, I did a series on Microagressions. Microagressions are “defined as brief and common daily verbal, behavioral, and environmental communications, whether intentional or unintentional, that transmit hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to a target person because they belong to a stigmatized group.” Sometimes you can’t see or recognize a bias. Our media is inherently racist. I had a asian friend ask me, “why do all black people sing with soul?” And she blinked at me not knowing what she said was racist. She believed this based on what she saw in the media. How is that supported? Black RnB singers, Black Gospel Choirs, and Beyoncé. This belief was subtly pushed. Our media they’ve vilified and made certain jobs and actions belong to a certain group. It’s not your fault because that’s what we’ve all consumed. Your subconscious may have learned this but your conscious mind knows that’s not a correct thing to think. What you can praise is that you recognized this as a stereotype and harmful. You didn’t play into it. It’s scary but we’re all bias and our goal is to unlearn it. The fact you can see this as wrong and working to change, you can feel good about it.
- Username
- Sarah33Sarah33
- Date posted
- 4y ago
i read something once that stated “what you think first is what you’ve been conditioned to think, your thoughts after define who you are”
- Username
- FathomableFathomable
- Date posted
- 4y ago
We're conditioned into those thoughts and stereotypes. Your immediate thought about something says very little about you, noticing it and not doing any harmful behaviour based on it says lots- that you care enough to notice, and you prioritise doing the right thing over the discomfort of the topic. As anonymous said, you didn't do any microaggressions and even if you had, if you noticed it and apologised and made a note to be more mindful, then you're doing as much as anyone can expect of you. Systemic change can stop this from being so pervasive for future generations. As for the OCD suggesting that you haven't applied for those jobs in the past due to the association with Hispanics- you can only give it a maybe. It could be that you hadn't considered cleaning jobs as a prospect, or didn't think they'd hire you, or that it felt low status, all sorts. It's probably some combination. We probably all behave based on unconscious conditioning all of the time, it's not our fault and also isn't something we can change until it comes into our awareness for some reason. So let what it's telling you be just another thought. It might make you a little uncomfortable but you don't need to investigate it.
- Username
- LinaLina
- Date posted
- 4y ago
Thank you guys. I'm trying to be better and educate myself everyday. Especially with the Black Lives Matter movement being so important.
Related posts
- Username
- canigetawitness
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Racism OCD. Thinking I'm a bad person and feel ashamed around POC I know this is going to sound horrible, but I've recently started to worry when I'm around POC, like im an annoyance. I didn't start to worry like this until a few months ago. I don't know what's happened. I notice myself when I'm on a walk or out in public that I'll start to feel anxiety that I'm racist. Or maybe when I see a POC I automatically assume they think I'm racist? I know I'm white and part of the systemic racism problem & that I'm privileged to be a white man. I consider myself to be a Black Lives Matter/People of Color ally. I just don't know why I'm anxious. I'm pretty sure POC around me can tell as well. I don't know why my anxiety has picked up on this. Does anyone else struggle with this?
- Username
- canigetawitness
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Convinced I'm a racist, even though it's the complete opposite of my morals & what I believe. - - - - - - I've currently been struggling with something that is going to make me sound like a piece of shit, even I recognize how messed up it's going to sound. Over the past couple months, I have been worrying about the proper way to interact with POC without coming across as racist. I know, this is already awful. I consider myself to be an ally who supports POC & civil rights movements. I'm ashamed of white people honestly, we've oppressed POC from the beginning of time. I'm personally ashamed of my white ethnicity. I've been even more so in the past year. I feel like my OCD has recently attached to this though. At least, I think it has, or maybe it's guilt knowing I'm white and part of systemic racism problem as a whole. When I pass a POC on the street, or in a place of business, I'll immediately start to get thoughts like "Am I coming across as rude? Am I being nice enough? Am I being too nice? Am I smiling too much? Am I smiling enough? Do I look uncomfortable? This isn't about me, so why am I anxious? Stop being so self centered. Are you appearing racist? What if this POC thinks I'm racist? That's awful to assume what they think. Stop making this about you!" And basically the entire time I'm trying to interact with someone of color, I have all this anxious dialogue in my head and I probably physically appear to be anxious, which in turn I'm sure the other person thinks "Why are they acting so tense/afraid?" It's not that I'm afraid, or dislike POC, I'm way too overly cautious, I recognize that, and it's actually coming across as racist. And I don't want to make this about me, because it's not, I can only imagine the racism POC have to endure on a daily basis. It's like my own OCD/anxiety is getting in the way. I hate it. I want to get over it. I don't know why it's coming up, but I want to get past this.
- Username
- canigetawitness
- Date posted
- 3y ago
Is there anyone with Racism themed OCD? I've been really struggling with this taboo theme & I'm finding it hard to function/find myself avoiding people out of fear of being perceived as racist. I constantly worry that I'm being perceived as racist. I'm white, I consider myself to be an ally of BIPOC and to work on being anti-racist. Lately though, I get hit with a ton of intrusive thoughts about coming across as racist when I speak to a BIPOC, which causes anxiety, which my anxiety probably then appears racist to the other person. I can't imagine what BIPOC have to endure on a daily basis just because of their skin color, so I'm not trying to make this about me. I'm just wondering if I'm alone in this or if other people struggle with this OCD theme. To be honest, it's pretty severe and it's attacking my core, because this "theme" feels opposite to what I value (being an ally, fighting to be anti-racist & dismantle racism) & who I am. I can tell that other people notice I'm anxious, and I just hate that I'm displaying nervousness because I'm sure it makes the other person uncomfortable. I know I'm coming off as anxious to other people. I know it because I'm trying so hard not to be perceived as racist, to get the interaction "right", that interactions just get weird, anxiety filled & awkward & I'm sure the other person is like wtf, this person is a racist. I don't know how to stop getting so lost in my head. I've tried to tell myself "Maybe I am a sick, racist human being, oh well", but that doesn't help because I don't agree with that statement.
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond