Redskins, Apu, and Aunt Jemima: Why Resolving Microagressions are Important to Resilience
In the past 1-2 months, our country has seen the most massive racial justice movement in our nation’s history. With protests still occurring to this day all over America, the institutionalized racial inequalities have finally been addressed on a variety of levels.
We have seen the Minnesota police department being completely abolished and restructured. Major cities are cutting funding to the police. International suppliers of tear gas and rubber bullets are now refusing to sell to American cities. This is not even taking into consideration the global movements that have sprung from this in countries like Britain or Australia.
However, now, we are faced with the most controversial adjustments in society: not the tearing down of Confederate-era statues, not the establishment of autonomous zones, but the subtle redetermination of consumer brands and ideals.
Recent news has broken that due to the current advocacy and protest demonstrations by Black Lives Matter groups has prompted companies to take action. Through pressure from various sources, the owner of the Washington Redskins plans to change its name. The Simpsons have agreed to have all POC characters voiced by POC actors. Brands such as Aunt Jemima are going to be rebranding all trademarked property.
Despite everything that has happened in recent memory, I have never seen my social media more divided than in discussions on whether this has gone too far or not far enough. The spotlight has been stolen by consumerism.
It is telling how much capitalism aligns our values when we are more upset about the redetermination of consumer items, rather than the significant political and cultural shift our country is facing. We have shifted from being a society built on the political views in the polis to one built on the expression of desires in the marketplace.
“It is telling how much capitalism aligns our values when we are more upset about the redetermination of consumer items, rather than the significant political and cultural shift our country is facing.”
This is not meant to be a subtle critique of economic systems. Instead, it is a demonstration of where we fail to put our values.
The average consumer is upset with a logo redesign or a rebranding of any sort because it brings in the concept of the unfamiliar, the unknown. Especially when there are deeper ties to the product due to nostalgia or trauma. When something is changed and becomes unfamiliar, we fear losing identity due to the loss of the known.
However, the fear of loss is precisely that. Fear of loss. The Washington Redskins will still have Dwayne Haskins and Alex Smith. Apu will always own a convenience store on the longest-running cartoon show of all time. Aunt Jemima’s signature recipes will not change.
I’ve also seen a lot of outrage on social media on the insufficiencies of these changes. This is mostly associated with Malcolm X's quote: “The white man will try to satisfy us with symbolic victories rather than economic equity and justice.”
“These are not symbolic victories—they are victories period.”
While I respect Malcolm X and the sentiment of the statement, what everyone is failing to consider is that these are not symbolic victories—they are victories period.
Malcolm X was not around for the coining of the term “microaggression.” Still, with its rise in popularity in recent years, we must consider that these victories are not symbolic. They are essential victories against cultural microaggressions.
“Creating that substantial economic equity and justice without addressing cultural microaggressions leaves non-institutionalized hate to run free through the streets.
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Resilience is impacted by micro and macro level aggressions. All must be addressed to develop a more reliable self and society. Creating that substantial economic equity and justice without addressing cultural microaggressions leaves non-institutionalized hate to run free through the streets.
Use the success here as inspiration to tackle other microaggressions or to fuel the tackling of a macroaggression. Our resilience benefits, no matter what victory it is.
So to my conservative readers, hold onto your identity as the product is still around. (Unless what made you love the Washington Redskins was the name, in which I say you have deeper issues to address).
To my liberal readers: I say to celebrate your victories and do not take anything for granted in these modern times.