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Justin Axelrode
Professor Malvin
English 115
20 November 2015
Our Micro Aggressive World
This world is full of countless people from numerous backgrounds who work and
live together to create a functioning civilization of human beings. But although we all
live together on this planet, many of us do not all accept one another. Although, many
people believe racism has disappeared in todays society, but it is still as alive as ever. It
is simply covered up in a world of denial. The most common racism seen today is the
nearly invisible micro-aggressions. Unlike obvious and violent acts of discrimination,
micro-aggression is a severe form of racism towards people of all cultures. While racism
is perceived to be mainly involving African Americans, it also greatly affects Caucasians,
Asians, Arabs, and Hispanics.
As most American citizens would say, the black race is easily the most
discriminated against. But is it really? When it comes down to racism, every single type
of person is discriminated against for something. The black and white races have always
had a miniature rivalry in American History. Even after slavery was abolished, whites
were still racist towards blacks, and blacks still held grudges against whites. Today,
many people have moved on from the past, but there are also still numerous individuals
who refuse to change old beliefs. In Anna Deavere Smiths book Twilight: Los Angeles,
1992, a white American man, named Reginald Denny, tells a story about his personal
experience of the Los Angeles riots. While minding his own business, his truck windows

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were smashed open and he was attacked. He woke up 5 days later to find out he was in a
coma after a couple black rights activists and the woman who saved his life greeted him.
Reginald then proceeds to describe his perfect dream home of no color, where racism is
not an issue. There is no denying the fact that the awful attack on Reginald was due to
his white skin color, but people of a different color also saved his life. Reginald Dennys
story shows that people are still caring towards one another, no matter what you look like.
However, another speaker in Anna Deavere Smiths book, an African-American man
named Paul Parker explains his brothers complications with the Los Angeles Police
Department. Although it is uncertain whether or not his brother was actually guilty of the
crime he was accused of, Paul had a group of people to blame. They basically feel that
if its a black-on-black crime, if its a [negro] killin a [negro], they dont have no
problem with that. But let it be a white victim, oh, they gonna they gonna go to any
extreme necessary to basically convict some black people (Smith, 171). His quote on
white victims is a perfect example of a micro-aggression. Contrary to the discernable
acts of racism towards African Americans, Paul has negative and hateful views towards
Caucasians as a whole.
Aside from just black and white racial discrimination towards one another, there
is also a strong prejudice towards Hispanics. A Hispanic Los Angeles citizen, Luis J.
Rodriguez wrote an autobiography about his transition to a better life. In Always
Running, Rodriguez describes how the Mexicans were viewed and supposed to act in Los
Angeles. It never stopped, this running. We were constant prey, and the hunters soon
became big blurs: the police, the gangs, the junkies, and the dudes on Garvey Boulevard
who took our money, all smudged into one. Sometimes they were teachers who jumped

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on us Mexicans as if we were born with a hideous stain. We were always afraid. Always
Running. Growing up as a gang member, Luis always felt like an outcast because of his
dream of becoming a writer. He would spend his days in a library reading and writing.
Ignoring the negative looks and comments he got from others, be it fellow gang members
or everyday citizens, Rodriguez managed to turn his life around from an ex gang member
to a published author who works to help change the lives of troubled teens. Similar to
Caucasian prejudice, Hispanic racism is covered up by African American racism.
According to a Huffington Post poll, many people found Hispanics discriminated against
more than any other race. The racism towards them has recently intensified in 2012
when Arizona passed a law requiring local police to question the citizenship of people
they suspect are illegally in the United States. Clearly, this law is unfortunate for
Mexicans since the Mexican border runs along Arizona. And while many people may not
view this law as an issue of racism, because it is not hateful or violent, it is still a microaggression.
To add even more to the list of discriminated races, we have one of the more
serious ones. People of Middle Eastern descent are looked upon differently than any
other race. Because of terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIS, Arabic people are
often looked at as threatening or intimidating. They are especially victimized when
wearing traditional clothing, such as a turban. Numerous people associate turbans with
terrorists and evil, but the meanings behind them are very much the opposite. The turban
represents sovereignty, self-respect, courage, and piety. It is not worn as an article of
clothing, but as a part of ones self and dedication to their faith. And to make matters
worse, the racist hate towards Arabs is in fact very violent and life threatening. Just from

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something as simple as the movie, American Sniper, social media networks were fired
up with thousands of hate-filled messages about killing Arabs. Rania Khalek, a writer for
The Electronic Intifada is not surprised by these threats because she believes that
American Sniper is brilliant propaganda that valorizes American military aggression
while delivering Hollywoods most racist depiction of Arabs in recent memory,
effectively legitimizing Americas ongoing bombing campaigns across the Middle East.
Many people may agree with Rania that American Sniper was purely a Hollywood
propaganda to inspire soldiers to fight the Middle East. However, in reality, the movie
was made to bring attention to and to honor a fallen American hero. A hero who did not
kill innocent civilians in the Middle East, but terrorists and dangerous soldiers who want
nothing more for America to be destroyed. Unluckily, viewers took the movie in a
completely different direction where their hate went towards the Arab race and not the
specific terrorist groups.
While talking to a student at the California State University of Northridge, Matt
Blaylock, he explained the micro-aggressions he and his family have experienced.
Growing up Vietnamese, Matt has always had the Asian stereotypes linked to him.
Whether it was assumed he was great at math or an awful driver, Matt was often linked to
false Asian stereotypes. Even his grandmother faced micro-aggressions when people
were surprised and impressed when she spoke English, a language she had been fluent in
for 30 years. Additionally, many Asians are frequently confused for one another.
Individuals look at Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, and Filipino as all
being the same. When in reality, they are all located across the globe with completely
different cultures and beliefs. They differ in all areas such as food, language, fashion,

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and mannerisms. Some examples that show the dissimilarity of Chinese, Japanese, and
Koreans are that the Chinese are often much louder than others. In Japanese and Korean
cultures, it is believed to be more respectful to be quiet, but China does not have that in
their culture. Also, unlike Japanese and Korean customs of bowing, the Chinese use the
handshake as their common greeting. And as for fashion, Chinese citizens dress similar
to Americans. But on the other hand, Japanese and Koreans dress differently. Korea is
more prominent in bright colors and Japan is known for their cute (Kawaii) looks. Asian
cultures are hugely distinctive in every factor of life, but so many people have trouble
differentiating them because of their similar looks.
On the whole, racism is far from gone in todays society. It is alive and active
towards every race in this world. Although some races may be discriminated more than
others, we are all looked at differently. Whites, Blacks, Asians, Arabs, and Hispanics all
face micro-aggressions. Even without ferocity, people can continue to hate and judge
others just because of the color of their skin, the way they dress, or the way that they
speak. These micro-aggressions may be hard to see, but they are there. They are tearing
our world apart, one race at a time.

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Works Cited
Smith, Amma Deavere. Guide to Twilight Los Angeles: Conceived, Written and
Performee by Anna Deavere Smith ; Directed by Marc Levin. Brookline, MA:
Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, 2001. Print.
Rodriguez, Luis J. Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A. Willimantic, CT:
Curbstone, 1993. Print.
Fram, Alan. "Hispanics Face Most Discrimination in U.S." Huffington Post. N.p., 21 May
2010. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
"SIKH THEOLOGY WHY SIKHS WEAR A TURBAN." SikhCoalition. The Sikh
Coalition, n.d. Web.
""American Sniper" Spawns Death Threats against Arabs and Muslims." The Electronic
Intifada. N.p., 22 Jan. 2015. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.
"Japanese, Korean, Chinese... What's the Difference?" GaijinPot Japanese Korean
Chinese Whats the Difference Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.