Microagression

Just recently actually that I have experienced a microagression not knowing the term for it. While I was returning home from school with my little brother and entered our apartment building elevator, one of the residents got in as well. As the door close and I clicked on my floor, she asked us where we were from. And right away I felt super uncomfortable but you wouldn't be able to tell with the look on my face. My brother answered her saying China and I facepalmed in my mind so hard. After we got off on our floor and the elevator door closed I said to him that we were born in America not China. Our parents were born there. I am in the mindset that you are the product of your environment and since him and I have lived in America all of our lives we have put on the American lifestyle and culture. I didn't remember this until it was brought up in class and now that I have looked back on it, I kind of feel as though as I am not what my environment shaped me to be. Her question rubbed me the wrong way and I think that this is an issue that needs to be resolved. Remarks like those is what lead to stereotypes and eventually straight up racism. A solution I find most ideal to solve it would be to teach children when they are young the importance of sef monitoring when it comes to being ill informed about race and stereotypes.