500th Time (microaggressions) — a poem
The internal monologue of holding a minoritized identity
/first time/
It’s probably not,
(whispers) it can’t be.
/second time/
It can’t be,
(whispers) is it?
/tenth time/
Is it?
(whispers) it might be.
/50th time/
It might be,
(whispers) it probably is.
/500th time/
It probably is…
(silent screams) it absolutely is.
Author’s comments
Microaggressions are the daily hurdles and prejudices faced by minority groups. The word is a bit of a misnomer. Although these hurdles may seem small, inconsequential, and invisible, microaggressions in actuality have a massive impact on the lives of minoritized people. The everyday buildup of such hurdles creates a murky goo that minoritized groups must constantly wade through in order to complete even the most basic tasks. It’s exhausting. And if you’re anything like me, it’s easy to gaslight yourself out of your own experience — especially when aggressors refuse to acknowledge their role in…
