The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

• What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression? Keep in mind that one can encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows, and the like.

There was an incident in which a woman was speaking to me and admiring what I was wearing, we engaged and I gave my casualties in which I thank her for the complement like any one else would, the lady continued on to tell me my color choice worked well together and in her words for me being so dark I wore the colors well.

• In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

This particular situation brought up feelings of my childhood and how I was bullied and made fun of because of how dark in complexion my skin was to everyone else. As a child I didn’t appreciate the beauty of the glow my skin gave off or the uniqueness in knowing not everyone has the ability to say that.

• What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

In listening to the woman I could feel after giving her comment I was angry because I felt like she was speaking ignorantly, and I questioned why she couldn’t just leave her comment at complementing what I was wearing. I know she had no idea of the affects of what her remark did and or how it made me feel. I simply stated to her I love all colors and walked away. Removing myself from that situation felt like the best thing to do at that moment.

• What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

I could potentially have gone back and forth with the woman which could have lead into an unwanted argument.