In Focus: Microaggressions & Get Out

The foundation of Get Out's explicitly racial horror is built on the everyday realities of microaggressive actions.
PATREON PAGE: / thelongtake
Music in order of appearance:
- "Prologue" by Michael Abels
- "The House" by Michael Abels
- "18 Ghosts II" by Trent Reznor
- "Claw Finger" by Akira Yamaoka
- "Gorrión" by Juan Serrano
- "Be Still My Servant" by Spoon
- "Something I Can Never Have" by Alex Gibson
- "Nowhere" by Thanksgiving
- "The Loop Closes" by How To Destroy Angels
- "Not Tomorrow 1" by Akira Yamaoka
- "Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga" by Michael Abels

[@tribalstyle138]

I think the phrase you were looking for, was that microaggressions make you feel like "the other". They can even be- and are often- compliments. But those compliments serve to show us that we are so different from norm that the person has to be extra nice to not seem racist. "I love your hair style" actually means "look I'm a good guy because even though everyone else doesn't like your hair, I do!"

[@truzle6133]

When they compliment you couldn't it also just be, " I know you might be feeling uncomfortable so I'm gonna try to give you some comfortableness.

[@sarahmasia6947]

I felt so uncomfortable for Chris during these scenes. This movie is a tribute to the transformative power of cinema!

[@fedrevrevfed4067]

Now this is what I'm talking about! Nicely done, sir.

[@TheLongTake]

Thought you'd like this one ;)

[@nbookworm]

I was visiting (not for the first time) a white professional who worked out of her home. I asked for water, and she told me where to get it. She also told me where the plastic cups were. Immediately, she said, "You can choose any glass you want." She probably realized what that would have meant 50 years ago. I think that at that time, she was thinking more about not piling up dishes in the sink, or perhaps that, since I was leaving soon, I might want to take the water with me. I guess what I am saying is that her request really sounded kinda innocent, especially when she realized how it sounded, and corrected herself. I had a friend who was describing a person. "Was he a black guy?" I asked, thinking I knew who she was talking about. Her response, "No, he was regular." "Regular?" I asked. "Oh, no - you know what I mean. He was white. I didn't really mean 'regular.' Innocent intent, but what if I hadn't gently questioned? Sometimes, this is all it takes.

[@rc2257]

Thank you for this. I hope your efforts help open some eyes.

[@thiccboss4780]

3:11 that line about Chris being the one to have to apologize reminds me of what Fabienne Tabard said in 1968's Stolen Kisses. an analogy involving a man opening a door that had a naked woman inside, in the first instance, the man apologizes and closes the door, but in the second instance, she says that the woman apologizes instead, i don't remember the term Tabard used on that analogy to represent her relationship with the other character Antoine Doinel, but the offended being the offender concept reminded me of that scene. is it relevant? am i possibly as smart as The Long Take -obviously not cause i havent watched every movie ever yet- *but im getting there* Edit: *_OMG when i started hearing the silent hill music i held my face to my face and omg omg imma cry a bit_*

[@zephyr2427]

Thanks so much for this! I love your video essay!

[@mobrownable78]

Good job on describing the subtleties of microagressions

[@AnticitizenOneC17]

I only learned about the concept of microaggressions a few years ago in a class about cultural diversity. The textbook for the class was written by a Chinese-American professor and in the introduction he describes an event from his childhood that--at first blush--I would normally have dismissed with an "Oh you got bullied? Welcome to life." However, as I read his commentary on what HIS experience of the event was--all of the little hurts and injustices that I never would have noticed, considered, or given any weight to--I realized how ignorant I had been my whole life up to that point about what it actually FEELS like to be a minority: Someone on the receiving end of discrimination or prejudice backed up by power and privilege. *I should note that, critically, I was also at this time parting ways with my conservative, patriarchal, Christian religion which required a massive paradigm shift on how I saw the world which allowed me to attend this class and read that textbook with an open and curious mind about things I would have summarily dismissed even 2-3 years earlier. One of the biggest issues that I now identify with my religious tradition, looking back, is the concept of the "Just world myth," which seems to me to be baked into Christianity in a lot of ways. One huge negative side-effect of the just world myth--which can also be described as the "everything happens for a reason" or "it's all part of God's plan" worldview--is that it makes truly feeling empathy for suffering as a result of injustice difficult because your beliefs require that all suffering be somehow purposeful and, ultimately, just (even if only God can see the justice in it). Abandoning the just world myth not only allowed me to--for the first time in my life--entertain the premise that there is such a thing as unjust, unmeaningful, and wholly unnecessary suffering in the world, but to realize as well that if that suffering is not part of some divine plan, then I not only have the power to reduce that suffering but the moral responsibility as well. In other words, when you believe that if some person or group is suffering it is a result of the will, wisdom, and love of God, and therefore any attempts to alleviate that suffering may be considered akin to the proverbial "ark steadying," feeling empathy for their suffering can become a theological problem. Your empathy will likely prompt a desire to help the sufferer, placing you in the position of working in opposition to the wisdom of the Divine, and that is a position I think few believers are comfortable inhabiting. All of this is a long way of saying that for most of my life I had a trained indifference to large-scale suffering and injustice because I believed God was in control of everything and all that bad stuff was just part of his mysterious plan and he would fix it if he wanted it fixed, but it wasn't my place to second-guess him, and that attitude kind of made me a bad--or at least calloused--person.* My point is, I was excited to watch this video (because I LOVE your stuff) and was so happy you decided to give your take on this movie. Then I noticed the Like/Dislike ratio and was shocked and surprised for about 1.2 seconds before I remembered how the version of me prior to 2014 would have felt about this video. I would have been one of the people shouting "Leftist propaganda!" and "You're advocating censorship!" and "What about the white people?!" and that made me sad about the person I was for so long. I'm glad I've left that person behind and can appreciated films like Get Out and videos like this in ways I was just not capable of appreciating before. The Matrix had me, and no one could tell me I was in it; I had to see it for myself. Thank you for making this and please keep up the good work. Your channel is amazing and I can't wait for your Alien 3 essay (finally!).

[@fang248]

I just want to thank you for making this video. I use it in the past two years in my sociology class to explain microaggression to students, and they seem to like it very much every time. Thank you!!

[@kelwattz7]

It’s all purposeful to weaken self esteem and to make society brittle and pathetic. Don’t pay any respects to this nonsense.

[@fang248]

@@kelwattz7 A masculine, strong, non-brittle person shouldn’t be afraid of this small video discussion. Just saying: )

[@exeacua]

As I see it Get Out exposes problems with racial separatism, and microagressions not as a problem itself but the normalization of them as well the fact that the afected have to suspect in a racist way as a problem. I think that is good to adress that these agressors want to hide their atrocious intentions so they gonna use him anyway (a bigger problem than their microagressions I think).

[@chrisfivos7093]

Thank you for another great video essay.

[@SpookyouKnowIt23]

You continue to be one of the most talented, insightful video essayists online. Keep it up, please

[@fbi2970]

Ya know this is insane to me, I’m so glad my family isn’t like this. It’s insane to think that this is the “staple” in every home, especially white homes.

[@TheLongTake]

I'm really glad everyone is too busy arguing about identity politics to notice that I have, once again and in keeping with what is apparently now a tradition, fucked up the release year in one of my title cards by a single year. It is also, for the curious, the second time so far I've done it with the film the video is about, the other being _To the Wonder,_ which is especially embarrassing given that Malick is my favorite filmmaker. Folks, I have a proofreading problem and it just might be terminal. Pray for me.

[@teamus6969]

really enjoyed this video, great detail and work put in

[@tarynbruintjies6813]

Thank you for this video...really helped with my English assignment😊

[@JohnMarkCreative]

this is amazing and so relevant!

[@Strecki19]

Very good, thank you.

[@LaViperasulTubo]

Very intresting channel and videos

[@thegwolf]

Holy hell, what is it with the thumbs down on this video? The dude was just telling his thoughts about the movie, its barely any different from a movie review its just diving a little deeper and gets a bit subjective, but thats sort of the point.

[@TheLongTake]

I didn't even go that hard, lol. Judging by the reactions, you'd think I was in full Malcolm X mode or something.

[@n64danny21]

What if find perplexing is that most of these "microaggressions" are the positive associations toward African Americans, stronger, faster, well endowed, the villains regard black people as the "perfect specimen" for their insidious endeavors, its in those motives that they show a complete disregard for the wellbeing of their prey as well, i think that the film is pensive in these aspects and through that subtlety reaches a wider audience and is so highly praised in its own right.

[@jeramydavin4061]

my fav line is "If you really push yourself (hushed) you could be a FUCKING beast!"

[@microreactionary6832]

Can there be height micro aggressions?

[@sarahmasia6947]

Yes.

[@GamingProductionz12]

Thank u now I can use this movie for my essay

[@brandonallison7782]

You know what? Even before viewing it, I'm going to comment on the fact that you clearly do not care about the countless "tough guys" who claim the topics you so fervently discuss don't matter or don't exist. I congratulate you on both your stubborness and eye for analysis.

[@TheLongTake]

Thank you so much. Glad to have your support.

[@Andesu]

I've been looking for an intentional depiction of microaggressions like this but for Asian Americans.

[@marleneg7794]

Well done.

[@exeacua]

Im not totally agree, but you make think a lot, thanks. Keep doing great videos.

[@orangewarm1]

im a black guy. and finding my phone unplugged in my white girl's parent's house would not be threatening to me. to me, being asked if being black in the modern world is a disadvantage or advantage is valid question. and i would answer it seriously if asked. some of what you say is true, but a black man might have a different take on it. dont presume to know how we feel.

[@thomasveerman4532]

Great video!

[@smashitvideos]

thanks for making this dude. I feel like most people understand that comments like those you use as examples are rude, insensitive, and hurtful but simply don't know the definition of a microaggression or have come to unfairly associate it with a certain group. to be honest this is the first video I've seen that finally explained microaggresions in an easy to understand way.

[@cjaquilino]

smashitvideos This is exactly what happens with these kinds of things. New ideas, trends, and cultural changes that are different from the status quo are portrayed as threatening and become boogeymen. The opposition creates fervor and outrage and people irrationally dismiss and ignore the new stuff. Luckily if the new thing is good on the merits it slowly gains traction and eventually *that* becomes accepted and eventually the new status quo.

[@allenwest1986]

All I see down below is a comforting safe space echo chamber ! LOL

[@LCCWPresents]

Why is the video disliked by 1/3?

[@rummugtheorc1675]

Love Red eye!!!!

[@jeffhartwig5283]

The movie could just as well changed characters from a black dood dating a white girl and going to see her family to an Asian dood dating a black girl and going to see her family. Hmmm movie plot upcoming maybe...

[@darthbakercamelia]

On GET OUT: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYGxf6OtmaeXm5Y

[@marleneg7794]

It's not a big deal. Until it is.

[@addisondrake733]

after watching this video descuss microagressions non ironically i started thinking that people telling me i’m to loud would be a microagression. I guess it would and i get that i’m hurting the other persons ears and everything but hearing ‘you’re too loud’ gets real old real fast after 20 years. From what i understand some microagresions can be jokes which i can see some women getting offended by a joke like “‘i’m taking women studies’ ‘oh so you’re going to learn how to make a sandwich?’” offincive but as a woman i like the joke. However for me with the loudness the best way to get me to lower my voice IS to make a joke about how loud i am. Also I TELL people this

[@Rubashow]

How can an aggression be unintentional? The concept of microaggressions just allows sheltered individuals to avoid genuine human conflict resolution in favor of an appeal to authorities to solve any perceived conflict for them. It's a bane on personal development and our communication. "Get out" is an interesting film because the racist idiots are left wing academics, who basically just feign interest in African Americans because being all progressive is en vouge. This criticism makes it unique. Apart from sinister uses of the concept of microagressions for political gain it can be used to describe what arises from friction between ethnicities in a multicultural society. The only way to avoid it is long term assimilation or the dismounting of a multicultural society. The first is something the left wing absolutely rejects. The latter would be a humanitarian catastrophe.

[@iansmart4158]

Well no, unintentional in the sense that it wasn't meant with malice (at least that's how i see it). Its like when friends would say something like, "You're the whitest black guy I know," as if that was meant to be a compliment. Obviously they didn't mean to sound racist, but the idea that being smart, quiet, and not obnoxious is somehow a white trait where as the loud, aggressive, obnoxious nature of blacks IS what makes them black. That's a microagression.

[@asceticwoodsman9606]

Ian Smart Assuming that's what they meant by that? It's just a bunch of perceived implications, that's why it is seen as madness to a lot of people.

[@NamhadiNdemufayo]

Comment section: TRIGGERED Hard, lol.

[@gabelincoln3608]

people dont know what alienated is microaggressions is not that

[@nicholasdismukes6741]

wow swift see what I f***** up today

[@nicholasdismukes6741]

the problem with all this is that social justice ruins everything I can say with 100% honesty that as a black male I've never suffered any actual racism it's all been made up to look like it but there's no actual such thing not really I mean yeah people are out there yet there's the KKK and things like that you know so it's not like it's impossible but 90% of the things that people call racism is just normal interactions everybody's different so you going to treat people who are different than you differently it's not a microaggression I mean we do the same thing back to white folks to Asian folks to you know Middle Eastern folks all these people had the same problems it's just whether you want to take a bunch of offense to things that are normal no one's trying to be racist everyday with their microaggression that's f****** b******* and you for whatever reason think that the social justice s*** is real when in reality it's just b******* nobody with a f****** brain would agree with your concept and you have to step away and recognize that social justice is nonsense at its best and harmful in some cases at its worst you are literally trying to segregate people in the name of anti-segregation

[@eatthisvr6]

1 that finished just as it got going fella, should a named this 1 short take lol 2 no obligation to answer this but what minority are you a member of? I'm from UK and black or white appears to be much less of an issue than in the US (apart from maybe london) there is a growing problem around Islam though

[@TheLongTake]

1) The In Focus essays are the short form essays on my channel. 2) I'm Latino. I'm also in a polyamorous marriage and I have a mild colorblindness, so I get a fair amount of BS from people. I can't comment on the UK, having never been there, but over here blacks, Latinos, and anyone from western or southern Asia get a lot of crap.

[@milovarquiel]

This fucking video its a microaggresion to me.

[@TheSparrow002]

:D

[@grantwhite9604]

It's a movie!! And its about actual racial aggression. What next, an analysis of the subtle antisemitism in Schindlers list! It appears context and intent is dead.

[@catsheri1]

How is "I do know tiger" a microaggression?

[@sromeo510]

Tiger Woods - he's black referring to the microaggression if you are black, you know all blasck people

[@saritamcghee7370]

Get out! 😳😳😳😳😳😳

[@abecallard442]

I'm generally not that into PC ideas like this but i guess I can agree with the idea that there can be hidden biases and aggressions in the little things we say. Liked the video!

[@myplaylist7007]

My only problem is you use the word microaggression , which to me is not a real word.

[@kiwikiwi2483]

It's literally a real world lmfao. How the hell do you den the existence of a literal word?

[@myplaylist7007]

@@kiwikiwi2483 i only heard about it in the last year or so. It wasn't used 10 years ago.

[@xikrx5951]

New words appear in the English all the time as the language evolves to fit the ever-changing world. 'Texting' wasn't a real word until I reached my 20s but is now an everyday word to name but one, while 'race' wasn't a real word in relation to defining different groups of people until the late 1500s and was unknown (as recently as) during the reign of King Henry VIII.

[@SquirrelWitch]

I'm so glad you did this. I always knew that you were progressive and now you're showing it to all those fucks that subbed because you talked about aliens. Never stop, the world needs more people like you. I'll never unsub from you.

[@cjaquilino]

For anyone unsubbing because he saying stuff you disagree with, I never wanna hear you say "go back to your safe space" again. And besides, anti-left folks basically run KZbin, look at there sub counts. Even fucking PewDiePie does videos ranting about "SJWs" and the wage gap now.

[@TheLongTake]

Thank you. This video got way more backlash than I was expecting, and I was already nervous about posting it, so reading comments like this really helps. Greatly appreciated.

[@mikemiller5637]

I agree with what you're saying the movie is saying. To play devil's advocate: You seemed to leave out the fact that, in the film, all the non-blacks actually had malicious intentions. All of those statements/microaggresions, minus the underlying maliciousness/deceit, could easily be seen as trying to relate to someone from an outside group, or as an invitation to feel welcome. The other point folks on the right might make is that "this" (well meaning white ignorance) never leads to "that" (a CONSCIOUS conspiracy on the part of whites to undermine the will of blacks for their own purposes, all the while espousing allegiance to their cause) in the real world, 2K17. I'd like to know your rebuttal to these points.

[@archiesimpson5172]

@Shay Monte' so what is your solution for a situation like my wife experienced where she was bullied at work by a black female coworker and then to top it off labeled a racist when she avoided this woman?

[@tojira22]

The examples provided are not related to the topic discussed in the video.

[@spaz288]

What examples? The examples from the film of characters committing microaggressions? Or the examples of Fox News/Blaze pundits disregarding the concept of microaggressions? All seems fairly related.

[@bb1111116]

Microagressions used to be called insensitivity. But that doesn't = murder. The film's idea is that white liberals are not only insincere but they're killers. This message resonates with you since you're Latino. So am I & my wife's from Puerto Rico. Every group has insensitive people. My wife & I have experienced that from Anglos & Latinos. But it isn't murder. The film plays on paranoia. Misinformed racial/ethnic stereotypes are wrong even if made by someone from a minority.

[@BlackShogun1]

When Minority do this, doesn't that come from a particular place of just trying to assimilate to white culture or what some consider success? A self-form of self-hatred of not wanting to be targeted or trying so hard to be considered one of the quote good ones?

[@JimmyDThing]

Everyone has experienced them, it just is seen as worse when it's in certain categories. It CAN be sexist, racist, etc. But it ALSO is felt in terms of looks, weight, income, etc. You obviously disagree, but attempting to control language is INCREDIBLY dangerous.

[@exeacua]

Thanks for this, its good to see people dont yelling each other and telling their non polarizing point of view. I'm agree btw XD.

[@BlackShogun1]

Not being responsible for one's language is just as dangerous. I don't know your statement comes off as just let me say what I want if you have an issue with it that's your problem.

[@JimmyDThing]

@@BlackShogun1 no, you can have issues with it. But controlling language is not the same thing as having issues with what someone says.

[@BlackShogun1]

@@JimmyDThing Where is the controlling language concept come from?

[@JimmyDThing]

@@BlackShogun1 if you are classifying language as an aggression, then you are saying that it should be legal to respond to words with more than words. That's controlling labguate.

[@PyroNexus22]

Great video, but I have to say, being an ethnic minority in a country, where microagressions are the norm, even I think that lately american mainstream culture is going a bit too far with fighting it. As for the film, I think it's also overrated, and that's exactly what I mean with "going too far". It's a good film, but because of the anti-racist hype in these last few years, it's hailed as the next coming of Christ, even ranking higher than The Godfather on Rotten Tomatoes. And being a horror fan, I think this film barely even qualifies as a horror film, it's more like a thriller with some horror vibes. By that I mean that the main secret of the film, that is revealed to us towards the end, is kinda terrifying, but the film doesn't explore it at all, and turns into an action film right after the reveal. Also, that racial humour was way out of place. If you're trying to scare people, there's two things you shouldn't do: 1) crack jokes 2) show the main character kicking asses. And then the film literally ends on a joke, with no real conclusion to the story. Beating everybody up is not a conclusion for a horror film, it's just lazy writing. So yeah, I just don't know why this film is so successful. On the other hand though, I don't understand the success of most mainstream films nowadays. It's like the culture degraded.

[@GeahkBurchill]

I have a friend who came back from living in Japan for ten years. HOOOOLY SHIT, _there_ is a culture that will let you know on a daily basis that you are not one of them, that you do not belong, that they do not respect you and they want you gone. His ten years there sounded like hell.

[@PyroNexus22]

Yeah, I heard such stuff about Japan too.

[@iansmart4158]

I agree the film is overrated, and the ideas expressed are relevant if not a little too simplistic, BUT I do think this film is a good in your face representation of the way liberalism CAN be racist and how it manifests. I think the film is directly a critique on the idea of america going too far trying fight microagressions like you bring up. The point is everyone IS trying too hard to relate, they ARE trying too hard to not sound racist. The films is literally the problem with a progressive message and finding footing with how to deal with decades of baggage between races. You're right, ppl DO go too far, and I think this is a film that reflects that. Ppl aren't too smart and don't pick up on that. They just see, "look at how hard these black ppl have it" when they should be looking at themselves. The film is made as a critique of minorty "allies".

[@PyroNexus22]

Ian Smart I hear you. I guess I also didn't pick up on it because I approached the film knowing it's reputation of this anti-racist amazing horror film. I still think though it's a very flawed film, and wouldn't rate it any higher just for its message. I'd rather watch a film tackle that issue without trying to be something it doesn't know how to be (a horror film). The director obviously has more skills in comedy than horror, he should've left this genre alone.

[@nevetstrevel4711]

But the movie makes these "micro aggressions" bad bc you know for a fact this is a horror movie. So you are literally going ok when does the horror start. Now? Ok now? But the real life equivalent would be if white people really were harvesting black people or randomly lynching people. In real life the contex is radically different. If you take out the creepy stuff that only happened on account of being a horror movie and leave the real life awkward stuff in it wouldn't be a big deal. In the trailer for the big sick had a indian girl meeting an Indian man and being really awkward your files.... Like xfiles... The truth is out there!! And it was an obviously awkward hamfisted attempt at breaking the ice. But they were both indian. But if a white girl liked him and was like i love Slumdog millionaire... Micro Aggression??? I mean its awkward to be like hey totes support obama but come on thats not a micro agression thats asking if someone wants some glass in their eye... I mean eye in their glass... I mean...

[@gabelincoln3608]

chronic pain is 100000 times worse than this first world problems

[@l33telboi]

The problem with the concept of microagressions is that it literally means being offended by things that weren't meant as being offensive. In other words, it can be -- quite literally -- anything. You can't expect people to be able to read minds. If you're offended by something that's not meant as offence, that is your problem. Quite literally. I'm not sure why you're pretending this is something that involves minorities more then other people either. Anyone can be on the receiving end of a microaggression. Literally anyone. Ever gone "Ooh what that guy just said was a bit offensive, but he didn't realise it or meant it". That's a microaggression. Also, if microaggressions are a problem in your life, then I'd like to congratulate you, because you've made it. You're living the perfect life. Because in anything but the perfect life, people have one trillion things worse to deal with the microaggressions.

[@jlklai98]

l33telboi having a problem with microaggression doesn't mean you're living a perfect life. It means you have to deal with microaggressive acts on top of whatever problems you have. For instance, my close friend's family has money troubles, and so he's more aware and more sensitive about it. That means I am aware that I shouldn't talk about his clothes, or his house, or the lifestyle he has to accomodate for that. Similarly, a microaggressive act toward me would be when people ask "so where are you from?" to which I reply "America," to which they reply "no, where are you REALLY from?" I take pride in the fact that I'm American, born and raised. It's an innocuous comment, but it heightens that feeling of being the other, especially when that sort of comment starts when you're really young. Microaggressions are small things, but hear about them enough and it starts to add up. It's more courteous to be aware of how you talk to new people before you understand how they are. Then, you can be more free with how you speak to them

[@Ansatz66]

"In anything but the perfect life, people have one trillion things worse to deal with the microaggressions." Obviously the microaggressions in themselves are nothing to worry about. They are scary because of what they hint at, not because of themselves. Imagine that your car breaks down on a deserted highway and while you're walking along that lonely road you find an axe covered in fresh blood. The axe itself is absolutely harmless and it would be ridiculous to be worried about it. What you worry about is what caused it to be there. In the movie the microaggressions are used the same way. They are completely harmless socially awkward moments, but they hint at racism, and racism is truly something to fear. Like the axe, microaggressions can be simultaneously trivial and terrifying.

[@l33telboi]

Oh yes. That doesn't sound paranoid at all. Not even in the least. If you find yourself finding hints of scary things in unintended slights then it's probably time to take a step back and try to figure out if these hints are all in your head.

[@Ansatz66]

"If you find yourself finding hints of scary things in unintended slights then it's probably time to take a step back and try to figure out if these hints are all in your head." Surely we can all agree that racism is a real thing that sometimes happens. It's not imaginary. It's also clear that the kind of things shown in the movie clips are indicators of racism. Perhaps they aren't proof of racism, but to dismiss them as nothing is equally unjustified.

[@l33telboi]

This is one of the reasons I loathe concepts like microaggressions. They take the focus off of actual real problems and belittle them. How many people will grow up dismissive of racism because they've heard snowflakes talk about the problem of racism and then give microaggressions as an example? I can picture it already, our future generations: "Well, racism obviously isn't a problem anymore. Look at what these idiots screaming about racism are talking about: Microaggressions. Microaggressions aren't a real problem, and if that's their best example of racism, then racism obviously isn't a problem." Microaggressions are things people who have never experienced racism are worried about. If you had actually experienced real tangible racism, then microaggressions wouldn't even register on your radar. Do you think the jews in concentration camps were worried about microaggressoins? Do you think the slaves in America were? How about something a little more modern day: Do you think the kids in the ghettos who join gangs based on racial undertones worry about microaggressions? What about people in the third world who are forcefully relocated because the current warlord doesn't quite like your ethnicity? Microaggressions are a problem only for the snowflakes sipping their latte at the local starbucks who have never experienced any adversity in their life. Meanwhile you have a child watching her mother get her brains scattered all over the floor by the local warlord because she had the wrong ethnic background. Imagine the pretentious twit sipping coffee: "Well, sure, that's a problem, but like, I once had someone say something racist to me, well, it wasn't technically racist, but I like experienced it as racist, even though he didn't mean it, so, I like, think that's a much worse problem, because I was sad for a second. Well, not really sad, but I like, didn't like it for a second. My life is like, so hard, you don't even know. And that's not even mentioning my mom. She's like, a total bitch. Makes me clean my room all the time. It's SUCH a problem. I should talk to the UN about it." Yes, there is racism in the world, there are actual real problems that should be dealt with. But instead of talking and dealing with this you spend energy on something like microaggressions? This actively hurts anyone who actually tries to solve the problem of racism because you're turning the entire thing into a pathetic joke. Compare some actually problematic racist things like: people physically attacking other people because of their race, people denying jobs to people because of race, etc; with what you're talking about right now: A friend said something that made me a little uncomfortable for a second because it had racial undertones, but he didn't mean nor realise it. Which of these problems should be talked about? Which of these problems should be dealt with? Probably not microaggressions.

[@usererror7007]

This movie's well made and all but I think you're reading into it the wrong way.

[@patwatters1748]

Ha micro aggression...I you can't handle people insults an words, how the hell would handle real aggression...a fist in the face....lol

[@MrTibTib1991]

Man up. Problem solved.

[@dvdragon]

Triggered.

[@pedroalexandreish]

Objectively, could this movie be interpreted as racist and full of microagressions in the way it depicts white people, i.e. "all white people are the same, they have no idea how offensive they are, they are dangerous, etc." Is is clear that the film uses the current social environment as a tool to depict the story, but perhaps that is not, ultimately, the point of the story, otherwise, wouldn't the official end be precisely the opposite: police shows up and arrests the black man for his crimes, when he was 'innocent', in so much as he acted in defense of himself? In fact, this is one of the alternate endings, but not the one chosen. Look, I'm not saying discussion should not be had, otherwise I wouldn't even comment here, I simply don't agree with the current tendency to simplify issues, to paint everything with opposing colors.

[@Tamlinearthly]

Sure, it could be interpreted that way. By a shallow person with little critical insight who is primed never to confront the reality of white privilege.

[@pedroalexandreish]

I don't think those two need to be connected. There is white privilege, sure, you would have to be a fool to disagree with that. But I think you could grant me that privilege is a complicated manifestation that has different kinds of value (not in a positive sense, but as part of morality, or right, let's say) in itself.

[@Bloodhound3323]

the end was purely chosen for a more of a "happier tone" according to the director. if the film wasn't attempting to show that message, that ending wouldn't have even been considered. notice how it wasn't a cop who came and rescued him. it was his black friend. and also notice the tension that built when the flashing police lights were seen at the end of the film. it's all pointing to him getting arrested, the worst case scenario.

[@pedroalexandreish]

That is precisely one of my points. There is a choice between a suitable ending to the story (in which the hero is rewarded); or a half-arse political/racial statement, and the director chooses the first one. Perhaps that should not be taken so lightly, despite the clear use of racial tension in modern western societies.

[@dorian875]

Pedro Alexandre I don't think the movie tries to depict all white people in one stroke, and it certainly doesn't do that to people of color as the opposing side. When it comes to non black people in this movie, there were little characters outside of the obviously evil organization, so it would be hard to assume that the director meant for all white people to be bad. And when it comes to people of color, Outside of the MC and his friend, all other people of color simply did not believe their woes and fell to inaction. Yes the alternative ending would have been a better social commentary, but we have to remember that this is a film and entertainment is one of its goals. I think that the better interpretation of this film's themes is that some micro aggressions CAN lead to real danger, rather than the interpretation that all white people are secretly racists who want to steal your body.

[@MrSquigglies]

Several of your examples are more just people being awkward or are blatantly racist. In actuality most "microaggressions" are simply misunderstandings or are misperceptions by people who can't handle social interaction that does not conform to their safe space i.e. women who can't handle a man coming on to her even a little bit. In your example a guy asks how she's doing. Not even anything innapropriate to say to a stranger and yet you put this forth as a derrogorative thing to ask. As another symptom of this In Meghan trainors "No" the lyrics are really a woman going off on a guy for working up the nerves to talk to her. Just because something makes you feel uncomfortable or offends you does not make you right or mean that there was wrong doing on anybody's part.

[@Tamlinearthly]

Mr Squiggles objects to the (perceived...) microaggressions directed toward him by complaining about anyone else's perception of the same problem directed at them.

[@MrSquigglies]

Tamlinearthly I am simply critiquing the argument and it's purpose. I in no way took offense to this or it's content.

[@jlklai98]

MrSquigglies I think the biggest counterargument to your idea that the guy was innocuously asking her how her day was is the situation/setting behind the question. If the situation was different, then the response would be different. If this was a social setting, the girl may be more friendly. However, this is a stranger in the streets calling out to a girl that walks by. Given the fact that other men have used this tactic with more blatant forms of catcalling (smile!), It's safe to assume this man was doing the same (which he was given the friends he had). And I think that's the biggest thing about microaggressions; you don't know what is a misunderstanding and what is actually potential harm. So rather than put up with microaggression and maintain that heightened sense of suspicion, people should understand what causes microaggression and actively avoid them.

[@ddeegan6532]

You should read "Racial Microaggressions in Everday Life: Implications for Clinical Practice" by Derald Wing Sue et al. If you really want to be intelligent on the subject, this academic text is the one that started the increased interest in microaggressions, so is basically required reading.

[@cheybat5390]

MrSquigglies "Just because I don't know what sexism feels like, doesn't mean you have a better grasp on it"

[@NorthSea0il]

The most overrated film of 2017 for me.

[@steak820]

Your breakdown on the Alien movies is wonderful but i'm afraid this video has dropped the ball. You see the problem with "micro-aggressions" is that they are made up on the spot. We have an understanding of intent in society, if someone moves their elbow and it hits you in the face, and you're a good person, you forgive that because you should understand it was an accident and they didn't intend to hurt you. It would only be a complete a*se who would interpret that to mean someone intentionally hit you in the face. Same with these so called "micro-aggressions", yeah you can jump to an instant ten on the outrage scale and claim your victim points but ultimately if you intentionally interpret something as malicious that was objectively unintentional, then you're kind of being a dick. Don't be a dick.

[@CM-tt2mf]

So I've been clumsy all my life, my mother had an assessment done at 7 that placed me in the bottom 3 percent on all physical skills except manual dexterity, I worked to get better balance and stop smacking into things. So 10 years later while practicing a 6 minute choreographed fight scene for a highschool play, I tripped and punched my best friend in the chest and/or throat several times a day; everyone was mad at me, but in this situation I was the asshole. Not because I wanted to hurt anyone, but because I thought my learning and overcoming my deficit, or keeping my role in the play, was more important than other people's well being. 1) Don't be a dick. (Intentions) 2) Don't Act like a dick. (Actions)

[@ojberrettaberretta5314]

this film is racist.....if the races were reversed it would have been an outcry but since...left leaning ppl think only whites can be racist its ok for non whites to say and do racist things.....think about it...the true message of the movie is....whites hate blacks but wanna be blacks so bad that they get in their brains and in their bodies to be ''faster''and what not..the premise of the movie is deeply racist and if the races were reversed the movie would never been done its also a really bad and extremely boring movie besides its unbelievably racist message

[@ojberrettaberretta5314]

@blonde bro im mixed race myself and expirienced racism from all races all my life the shit he assumes white ppl think is racist af he is a racist thats obvious im against all racism dont matter who does it

[@asceticwoodsman9606]

These so called "Microagressions" share no difference with the perceived fantasies of conspiracy theorists.

[@asceticwoodsman9606]

I suggest people look more into the nature of thoughts, feelings, opinions, and subjectivity.

[@wombatjack3995]

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