Karina Rodriguez
Arts Editor
Daniel Loera, director of multicultural affairs, discussed “Stereotypes and Microaggressions,” allowing students to explore their thoughts regarding struggles with racial prejudice on Wednesday in the Ludwick Center before an audience of roughly 15 members of the University of La Verne community.
This lecture was the second in the seven-lecture series on “belongingness,” designed to foster community building. This lecturer’s focus was to help students see where stereotypes and microaggressions can lurk and how to identify them.
Loera pointed out some common stereotyping that people of color in the United States may face.
“Where are you from or where were you born? You speak English very well,” Loera said, as an example of the way people of color are often spoken to.
Stereotypes are common in relation to race, gender, sexuality, and even intelligence.
Loera also pointed out that assimilation is a defense mechanism for many communities as cultural aspects, such as language, have been erased.
An example of this is when people within a certain cultural group say to one-another, “‘Don’t speak your home language’ because you’re going to get a lot of sh**, you know, in this country,” Loera said.
Loera said it is often a privilege to be able to speak the language from one’s home country as it is not a guarantee.
Students were given the opportunity to share how they have been impacted in their own lives by stereotypes and microaggressions and how they felt about it.
Senior biology major Jenieva Black said she has personally been hurt by stereotypes and microaggressions from people she thought were friends.
“If you’re going to ask me what I am– I’m a human being,” Black said.
Black described her feelings about an encounter with her so-called friend.
“I was in disbelief and I just felt very guarded around that person afterwards because I didn’t feel comfortable anymore,” Black said.
Loera said people of color have found themselves excelling in certain fields, but once they learn the stereotypes associated with that field and their race, they find themselves struggling.
There was also discussion about how stereotypes threaten the success of people of color in many different workplaces.
Sometimes, a person of color may be the only representation that they have of their ethnic group in academia or in a workplace.
Senior sociology major Malcolm Jones talked about how microaggressions and stereotypes put pressure on people of color due to them being the representation.
“If you’re the only person, like you’re a minority in spaces, then it feels like you’re speaking for the whole race,” Jones said.
Jones also said that when you mess up as a minority you find yourself “proving a point” and giving truth to microaggressions and stereotypes.
There was also discussion on what an open mind is and how to keep an open mind.
Many individuals find themselves saying that they have an open mind only to find themselves having their perceptions of people changed due to their convictions.
Stacey Strickland, adjunct instructor of dance, said it’s important to maintain an open mind.
“I cannot come into that phase with preconceived notions or prejudices. I have to empty my cup to be able to exist and to absorb,” Strickland said.
The next Belongingness lecture will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Ludwick 309.
Karina Rodriguez can be reached at karina.rodriguez3@laverne.edu.
Karina Rodriguez is a senior journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism, and editor-in-chief of the Campus Times. She has previously served as sports editor, social media editor, arts editor and a staff writer.
Jai'la Counts is a freshman communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine.
