Racial microaggressions as a tool for critical race research

TLDR

This conceptual article uses critical race theory to explain how everyday racial microaggressions arise in the experiences of People of Color. The authors provide a framework for understanding and analyzing racial microaggressions that shows how everyday racist events are systemically mediated by institutionalized racism and guided by ideologies of white supremacy. The framework is illustrated with historical and contemporary examples of racial microaggressions and offers multiple ways to apply it in critical race research. The authors argue that racial microaggressions serve as a powerful tool for identifying, disrupting, and dismantling racism that marginalizes People of Color in and outside education.

Abstract

This conceptual article utilizes critical race theory (CRT) to explain how everyday forms of racism – racial microaggressions – emerge in the everyday experiences of People of Color. We provide a framework for understanding and analyzing racial microaggressions that demonstrates how everyday racist events are systemically mediated by institutionalized racism (i.e. structures and processes), and guided by ideologies of white supremacy that justify the superiority of a dominant group (whites) over non-dominant groups (People of Color). To demonstrate the conceptual utility of the framework, we utilize historical and contemporary examples of racial micoraggressions, and offer varied ways to use the framework in critical race research. We argue racial microaggressions can be a powerful 'tool' for identifying, disrupting, and dismantling the racism that marginalizes, subordinates and excludes People of Color in and outside of education.