Help your students tackle microaggressions with our brand new resources
A staggering 95% of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic young people have witnessed racist language at school (YMCA, 2021). Our new Microaggressions teaching resources seek to tackle these and promote understanding of the impact of verbal and non-verbal comments, insults and actions…
When discussing racism and discrimination in their everyday school, college and university experiences one of the common issues reported by young Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic young people is the prevalence of microaggressions – verbal and non-verbal actions that undermine or alienate them in their environment.
Our new Microaggressions teaching resource, created in partnership with students from the University of Brighton and pupils from Seaford Head School, seeks to reduce the instances of these experiences and promote more inclusive learning environments by:
- Enabling students and staff to recognise microaggressions and the many forms they can take
- Creating understanding of the impact of microaggressions
- Empowering students and staff to develop positive, practical strategies for challenging them when they occur
- Giving students the understanding and confidence to be effective allies and advocates for each other
Debra Vice Holt, SLN project lead for the new resources explains: ‘With relatively low numbers of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students across Sussex schools and colleges, the feeling of being ‘other’ can be damaging, and students tell us that this feeling can be exacerbated further by the experience of micro aggressions.
'By helping to build greater understanding of microaggressions, what they sound and look like, and how to challenge them, we’re hoping to help schools and colleges in their work creating welcoming, inclusive environments for all.'
Go here to download your free copy of the Microaggressions lesson plan and teaching resources today. And if you want to find out more about the role that young people played in their creation, read our Spotlight interview here with Seaford Head Assistant Head Teacher, Imogen Wallace, whose students ensured the new resources were as accessible, informative and engaging as possible.