Page 14 - Anti-Racism Pocketbook for Schools and Academies

Other forms of microaggressions and SAEs can slip out in well-
intentioned jokes, curiosity, and compliments such as:

• “You speak English very well.”

• “Are you from Jamaica? I love Bob Marley.”

• “I am almost as dark as you in this sun!”

• “You are very pretty for a black girl!”

It can be easy to ignore microaggressions and not fully
understand the internalised impact that they have on ethnically

diverse individuals. However, it is important to recognise when a

microaggression has occurred. Everyday microaggressions and

subtle acts of exclusion can have terrible consequences on the

mental and physical health of ethnically diverse individuals.

What might seem like a small comment to you, might not be a
small comment to others. It is always okay to ask for clarification

like “Could you say more about why you think way or what you

mean about this?” when you sense hidden discrimination or

racism within a comment. If racism is left unchecked in the

workplace, racial abuse and discrimination can thrive in aspects
relating to recruitment, performance assessment, promotions,

development, and more.

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