A microaggression is defined as "a statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority".
In Layman's terms, it is a subtle comment that a lot of the time is not meant to be malicious but still discriminates or strengthens the belief of stereotypes against marginalized minorities.
Here are some great links with examples and ways to respond to microaggressions if you'd like to know more!
https://itstopswithme.humanrights.gov.au/what-can-you-do/speak/casual-racism
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/05/health/racial-microaggressions-examples-responses-wellness/index.html
To be racially colorblind is to say that you don't see the color of people's skin and that it has no effect on how to go about interacting with said person. If someone says that they don't see race they are either 1) lying to you or 2) very unaware. It is okay to see race! If you don't you will be missing out on learning about POC culture and probably their experiences with oppression. How can you help fight racism if you don't see race in the first place? Being colorblind helps racism go unchallenged and is a step in the wrong direction.
Race is more defined by a person's physical characteristics, for example their skin color or hair texture.
Ethnicity is defined by an individuals culture and place of origin, for example Japanese or Native American.
"A female born to Japanese parents in Atlanta might consider herself as racially Asian, but as ethnically Japanese, Japanese-American, or even just American. Clothes can play a big part, too. A Scottish-American man wearing a plaid or tartan kilt; an Indian-American woman wearing a sari; and a Japanese-America woman wearing a kimono are all examples of how people display their ethnicity through dressing."
-John Donovan
1) Learn more about contemporary racism and the experiences of people of color today.
2) Because race is an emotional issue and we all have feelings about it, we need to feel our feelings, talk about them with others, and allow our hearts to be touched by how racism is affecting people. HAVE EMPATHY! If we can allow ourselves to cry, rage, laugh, and tremble, our capacity to be effective allies will grow more quickly.
Feed off of the momentum! The country is in a unique position where the movement for racial justice is in the limelight all over the world. Use this momentum to use your voice and your power to educate yourself so that you may be better equipped to make visible change in your school or community. Here are some things according to comingtogether.org that you can do...
3) We need relationships with people of color. This is not so people of color will teach us, but rather so we can have the humanizing experience of being connected across lines that have attempted to divide us from our fellow human beings.
4) We need to learn to recognize racism wherever it exists, to speak out against it, and to work collectively with others to dismantle it. (This is a short answer. Other readings and sections of this website suggest more extended answers to this question.)