The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

http://kidgreen-donna/blogspot.com

My most vivid memory of several incidences involving prejudices and/or oppression was back in the 90's when I was living in the deep south. I had spent close to ten years teaching there and was about to get married and relocate to another part of the country. 

When I had the real estate agent come over to my house, I was showing her around the house and yard. This was in a very well-maintained subdivision with lovely homes and yards. Whilst we were outside talking, my neighbor drove up into her driveway. I called her over to introduce her to my real estate agent. They talked briefly and then my neighbor left.

After we went back in the house, my real estate agent told me that it "might be a problem for some looking at my house, as I had black neighbors". I was stunned by this comment, and asked her what she meant by that. She went on to say that there were going to be potential buyers that would not want to have "those people" as neighbors. This agent was diminishing equity of all black people by suggesting many non-black people would not like to purchase a home or live by black people. 

I made it very clear, that my neighbors were very good people and had been helpful to me over the years while I lived there. My neighbor was also a teacher and her husband was a Colonel in the military. Their children were good friends with my daughter and they played together all the time.

Her continued comments made it very clear that she had stereotyped all black people as "criminals". I mentioned to me that I would not want someone buying my house that would have a problem with my neighbors, as they were such nice people and so forth.

Later, after the agent left I could not stop thinking about her rude and discriminating comments. Although, I did not realize it at the time, she was using microassaults towards my neighbors (Laureate Education, Inc. 2010). It left me feeling angry towards the agent and also ashamed that I had allowed someone like that in my house.

 The next day, I called the Broker of the real estate office, and voiced my concerns. She suggested I change to another real estate agent in the office, and I agreed.

Today, if something like that happened I would personally educate the realtor about how biased she was, and that she was clearly practicing real estate violations by assuming what others would feel about their neighbors. She had no business working as a real estate as far as I was concerned.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). “Microaggressions in Everyday Life”               [Video webcast]. Retrieved on May 28, 2013 from https://class.waldenu.edu