Directions: In the RESPONSES section of your
notebook answer the following questions over the two articles we read &
annotated today. Make sure to answer in complete sentences.
1. What happens in “Little Things Are Big”? Why? What roles do racism, prejudice and stereotyping play?
2. “Little Things Are Big” is set more than 50 years ago. Could the same piece be written today? Why or why not?3. After you have read the entire Microaggressions Times article, look back at this paragraph:“What is less clear is how much is truly aggressive and how much is pretty micro — whether the issues raised are a useful way of bringing to light often elusive slights in a world where overt prejudice is seldom tolerated, or a new form of divisive hypersensitivity, in which casual remarks are blown out of proportion.”What do you think? Why? What examples from the text or from your own life experiences support your opinion?4. What theories does The Microaggressions Times article offer to explain why there has been a recent and heightened awareness of microaggressions? Why do you think there is so much attention focused on them right now?5. Both the term “microaggression” and the title “Little Things Are Big” play on the idea that, where sensitive subjects like race are concerned, something that may seem small or meaningless to one person can loom large for another. When have you ever had an experience where “little things” seemed “big”? What did you learn from it? Do you think it is better for us as a society to openly discuss sensitive issues like race, class, sexuality and religion with people who are different from us, or do you think some things are better left unaddressed? Why?6. How are the articles “Little Things are Big” and Microaggressions similar? Support your answer with evidence from BOTH passages. This must be answered in SHORT ANSWER format…1) answer the questions 2) provide evidence from BOTH passages 3) explain the evidence.
