Getting Graphics
WA#1: Draft + Peer Review
10/12/22
The Existence of Microaggression
Oluo’s chapter on micro-aggression reflects the simple yet commonly misunderstood or unidentified aspects of small offenses that are easily dismissible but critical to hurting others based on race or gender. Microaggression requires diligence and objective thinking to eliminate potential biases based on race or other factors. Elements such as “Is that your real hair? Can I touch it?” (Oluo 170). Ben Passmore’s Your Black Friend comic reflects the experience of a young black man who reflects on instances of everyday racism that face black people. The experience of the black people reflects bias and micro-aggression that is not discoverable even with the application of caution among the most cautious white people. Ben provides information about microaggression through examples such as “your black friend wants to say something but does not want to appear angry” (p.2 panel 3). The dark color as background on pictures detailing the black friend and the bright background for the whites reflects unconscious micro-aggression. Ben Passmore’s text highlights numerous instances of micro-aggression, a perception impacted by standard practices and values within society over time. The perception of anger among the blacks and attachment to micro-aggression
Micro-aggression is an active factor in YBF comics. The descriptions provided for the perceived thief have racial connotations. The caller said she saw a sketchy guy from the backyard with a bike. When she was prompted to provide a description, she said, ” I dunno… black, tall, dreads, the bike was a 98 Gary Fisher WI, a big marlin on it, drop bars, disc brakes, a broken spoke, and one of those Brookes racing saddles instead of the factory seat” (p. 1, panel 4). The key point reflects the racial undertones associated with black people. Society perceives blacks as people who engage in criminal activity. The lady speaking did not know whether the bike was stolen. The illustration that he was tall and had dreads and black reflects an example of micro-aggression. The perception would not fit if the focus were on a white man. The explanation relating to the fear in the woman’s voice that she would call the police indicates the perception that she has against people of color.
The man speaking to the lady over the phone asked, “Was the house on France street? Did he have a big nose?” (p. 1 panel 5). The quote provides another point of micro-aggression. The caller believes that France street is one of the unsafe areas. The illustration in such a setting would be that France street would be in one of the areas with a majority of black people. Progressively, the discourse highlights the bias that black people face in society. Dark colors are the standard background for the black friend’s discussion. The response indicates an expectation that crime would be prevalent in an area, and people of color are likely prevalent in such areas.
Ben Passmore’s play reflects unique instances of micro-aggression prevalent in society and exercised subconsciously through common values adopted over time. Society must strive to accommodate the racial diversity in modern society that has reflected unique perceptions and ideologies that are aggressive on a small scale in Oluo’s discussion. Addressing such micro-aggression is critical in promoting a balanced society where all individuals would feel accommodated and comfortable. The comic highlights the harms of micro-aggression and its impact on society, underpinning the core aspects of the mental frame in shaping society. The change in society must stem from the change in the mental frame within the individuals constituting a society.
Work Cited
Oluo, Ljeoma “So You Want to Talk About Race” Chapter 12: What are Microaggression?
Passmore, Ben. “Your Black Friend.” Silver Sprocket, Sept. 2017, https://www.silversprocket.net/your-black-friend/#.