There are things that we do as human beings that are inherently ingrained in us. Things that may have no rhyme or reason, but we rarely question.

 
I, for one, am freaking fed up with that.

 
I recently learned about the idea of micro-aggression.

 
At its very base, this is the idea that we react differently in tiny, tiny ways to people or situations that we’re subconsciously afraid of or don’t understand.

 
Biologically, this makes sense. Cavemen had this instinct for survival.

 
Sure.

 
But this is the year 2016, and we should not react like cavemen. Therefore, I take it as my duty to bring this to your attention.

 
An example of micro-aggression might be something like this: A clerk is manning the counter at a convenience store. A person of the same race, gender or socio-economic status walks in, and the clerk greets them with a “Hello!”

 
Then, in walks a person of a different race, gender or socio-economic status.

 
The clerk subconsciously might be afraid of talking to this person, or shy away from them for various reasons. Without even realizing it, that “Hello” might be a little less happy.

 
Not quite as inviting.

 
And that is just one small example, which might affect only a minute portion of people.

 
The most frustrating thing about micro-aggression, to me, is the idea that I’m most likely not even aware of what I’m doing until I make myself aware of it.

 
Because of this awareness, I’ve caught myself trying to make sure that when I make eye contact with strangers in the street, I make eye contact equally with everyone (or not at all, which is sometimes easier).

 
The thought that I’m potentially supporting micro-aggressive behavior and not even aware of them is maddening.

 
This is an instinct written into our biological code from the caveman days. But why now, after so many years, is this still a regular occurrence?

 
Why is racial tension still such a problem?

 
Let me bring a sobering fact to mind. Abraham Lincoln signed into effect the Emancipation Proclamation (I’m not explaining. If you don’t know what that is, you have bigger problems) in 1863. That was 153 years ago.

 
One hundred and fifty-three years!

 
And the debate about whether it was proper to own another human being was brought about far before that. The term micro-aggression was coined in the 70’s, so even this we’ve been aware of for over 40 years.

 
So what is our problem? Are we actively choosing to act like cavemen?

 
I can’t answer that for you.

 
But, do yourself, myself and every other human a favor, and pass it on. Spread word to the masses.

 
The more we talk about this, the better.