MICROAGGRESSION–noun; a brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignity, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicates hostile, derogatory or negative racial slights and insults towards people of color. Wow, that’s a mouthful. Microaggressions are those common racial offenses people of color have gotten used to hearing on a daily basis. Here are the top 10 microaggressions Black people are tired of hearing. (There are microaggressions for every minority, but I’m Black so I will speak about those.)

1) "You're not really Black..."

I mentioned this one before. Is your definition of blackness really so limited and narrow that you cannot see me as Black? And who are you to define who is and is not Black anyway? Are you black? Hmmmm????

2) “Wow, you’re so articulate!”

I bet you thought you were giving me a compliment here didn’t you? Implicit within this statement is the notion that you assumed I would not be able to articulate myself well. If you thought I would be “articulate”, it would have not been worth noting.

3) “Wow, you’re hair is so fluffy! Can I feel it?”

And then your eager hand reaches for that wooly head of hair, longing just to touch one curl or kink on the head of your acquaintance. If you ever feel this urge deep down within yourself to feel someone’s hair, DO NOT DO IT. And also don’t describe it as fluffy, sheesh.

4) “So how do you feel about Barack Obama/Rev. Jesse Jackson/Tiger Woods/Deray/other Black figure?”

Again, I know there were probably no ill intentions in this statement. But man, I’m trying to leave class. I don’t have time to act as the representative of every Black person in America! If you catch me on a good day, maybe I will humor you and play along. But do not always come to me to get the “Black” opinion.

5) “You’re really pretty for a Black girl.”

Oh, you were so close to giving a compliment. You really were. But that “for a Black girl” lets us know that you think most Black girls are not pretty. This one particular “melanin queen” you have graced with your presence is the outlier, the anomaly. Even if you don’t pick up the subtext of your words, we do.

6) “You know who you look just like? [insert Black celebrity here]”

This one just confuses me. After cracking a couple of jokes, someone always says I look like Kevin Hart. Look at a picture of Kevin Hart. Now look at me. Back at Kevin. Back to me. Do I look ANYTHING like him? No, I do not. However, to some, I have an uncanny resemblance to him. People associate certain personal characteristics with me and a certain celebrity. But for some reason, it extends to physical attributes. And that just confuses me.

7) When You Clutch Your Purse When I Walk By

This is not a verbal microaggression but we still notice it. We walk into the elevator with you. And you step a little further away. Clutch that purse a little bit tighter. You do not think we notice. But we do. You think I’m going to rob you? I’m just trying to get off on the next floor. Not every Black person you meet will steal your money! (Bonus points if you cross the street when you see a Black person walk towards you.)

8) “YO WHADDUP MY N***A”

No. Just don’t. I do not want to hear any rationalizations. I do not want to hear that you can say it because you hear Black people say it. I do not want to hear that you have a right to say it because you hear it in rap music. I do not want to hear that you not being able to say it is a violation of your freedom of speech or is some form of “reverse racism”. Just don’t do it.

9) “You know, I think Donald Trump is saying some good things. What do you think?”

If you are voting for Donald Trump or are thinking about it, just remember that Donald Trump is a racist, bigoted, xenophobe whose campaign has no political substance, and is just fueled by white fear. If you support him, news flash, you probably are a bigot.

10) “It’s okay. I can say that. I have a lot of Black friends.”

You have a lot of Black friends? That’s cool. But don’t think that gives you a pass to say problematic things.