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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Resource Guide

What are microaggressions?

"Racial Microaggressions are commonplace verbal or behavioral indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults in relation to race. They are structurally based and invoke oppressive systems of racial hierarchy. Racial Microinvalidations, Microinsults, Microassaults are specific types of microaggressions.

Note: The prefix “micro” is used because these are invocations of racial hierarchy at the individual level (person to person), where as the "macro" level refers to aggressions committed by structures as a whole (e.g. an organizational policy). "Micro" in no way minimalizes or otherwise evaluates the impact or seriousness of the aggressions." - Simmons University, Anti-Racism Guide

What is implicit bias?

Thoughts and feelings are “implicit” if we are unaware of them or mistaken about their nature. We have a bias when, rather than being neutral, we have a preference for (or aversion to) a person or group of people. Thus, we use the term “implicit bias” to describe when we have attitudes towards people or associate stereotypes with them without our conscious knowledge. Perception Institute 

Eliminating Microaggressions: The Next Level of Inclusion | Tiffany Alvoid | TEDxOakland

We all have implicit biases. So what can we do about it? | Dushaw Hockett | TEDxMidAtlanticSalon

Implicit Bias -- how it effects us and how we push through | Melanie Funchess | TEDxFlourCity

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