What are racial microaffirmations and why do they matter?
During my year abroad at the London School of Economics (LSE) at the age of 20, I encountered a moment that has stayed with me ever since. As I walked near campus, preparing to enter the Holborn Tube station, a fellow South Asian in their twenties nodded at me, looked me in the eye, and said, “What’s up my Asian sista?” It might seem like a simple interaction, but in that moment, I felt a surge of unexpected warmth and validation. It was a stark contrast to my experiences back at my New England liberal arts college, where such acknowledgments were rare.
Racial microaffirmations, like the one I experienced at LSE, are those subtle verbal and non-verbal gestures exchanged within Communities of Color. They carry immense significance, offering validation and acknowledgment of individuals’ worth and shared humanity. These gestures serve as a counter to the pervasive everyday racism faced by marginalized communities, disrupting the oppressive norms perpetuated by systemic racism and white supremacy.
Grounded in research by scholars like Lindsay Pérez Huber, the recognition of racial microaffirmations is vital in understanding how People of Color affirm each other’s value and integrity amidst the challenges of racial microaggressions. These affirmations not only acknowledge the structural inequities and collective pain caused by racism but also offer a source of strength and resilience.
From cultural proverbs to subtle nods and gestures, racial microaffirmations manifest in various forms and contexts, from the streets to classrooms and meetings. Their positive effects, both physiological and psychological, are significant, contributing to decreased stress levels and improved academic outcomes over time.
In today’s climate of pervasive racism and white supremacy, understanding and acknowledging racial microaffirmations are paramount. They provide a language for People of Color to uplift one another.
Thank you to my sister in the work Aija Simmons for introducing me to this research and bringing it to our work in Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL). I learn so much from her brilliance and masterful facilitation skills!
Meena Srinivasan is a contemplative leader, celebrated speaker, accomplished author, and visionary edupreneur. She is an educator-activist at heart, consistently championing the fusion of Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, and Belonging. Meena was featured as one of 2022’s 10 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement in Mindful Magazine and is the Executive Director of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL)™ an organization that supports educational leaders in building more compassionate and just schools. A former public school administrator and National Board Certified Teacher, Meena is the creative force behind the SEL Every Day Online Courses, an instructor of graduate level Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) courses at UC Berkeley and the CEO of Karuna Consulting, LLC, an organization that takes its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Karuna,’ signifying compassion. Karuna Consulting is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) driven by a profound mission: to foster a more compassionate world through Meena’s keynotes, professional learning, coaching, and consulting services. She is the author of numerous publications including Teach, Breathe, Learn and SEL Every Day. The latter was honored as one of 2019’s Favorite Books for Educators by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. Her TEDx talk on Tenderness is one of the most popular TEDx talks of 2024 (with over 2 million views). Meena has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 25 years, is an ordained Zen Buddhist and serves on the Board of the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation. Learn more at meenasrinivasan.com.
