If the constant barrage of bad news has got you feeling like running for the northern border you’re in good company. Teen Vogue’s Jessica Goudeau has the trick to keep standing up without wearing down.
Microresistances — a response to those subtle incidents of discrimination called microaggressions —are small actions that when made on the daily chip away at big problems.
“Communicating thoughtfully with people who disagree with us is our patriotic duty,” says Goudeau.
That communication is a form of resistance. Say your daily conversation turns to the refugee issue and you get the ol’ “they’re just coming here to [fill in the blank]”. If that blank isn’t “to survive” then it’s time to shine! Give them the opportunity to say their piece and politely drop a little knowledge. Make sure you know your stuff and have neutral sources to back it up. Attacks raise defenses—this is all about sticking to the issue, not the person, about having meaningful discussions about what’s really happening.
In this case, it’s probably as simple as separating refugees from economic migrants—those fleeing persecution out of necessity versus those moving for better job opportunities. It’s one of those things that’s commonly overlooked and makes a big difference.
Keep it simple and keep it up. Stay woke, but don’t go emotionally broke. We got this, y’all.
If you’re as curious as we are, Harvard’s Project Implicit lets you test your own implicit bias.
