Sandra never imagined how much it would hurt to see someone mistreat her child simply because of the color of his skin. As a white mother of a Latino son, Sandra has always worked to instill a sense of pride in her child’s Mexican heritage and Latin American identity. But, despite her efforts, subtle forms of racism—microaggressions—find their way into her child’s world.

One afternoon, Sandra’s son came home upset. A few classmates teased him about his lunch, using stereotypes about “spicy” foods and making assumptions about his family’s immigration status. He also shared a troubling story about a teacher who rarely calls on him, and when she does, her tone is clipped and dismissive, as if she’s expecting him to fail. For Sandra, the pain she feels is real and immediate. These aren’t imagined hurts; these are wounds inflicted by a world that treats her child unfairly.

The reality becomes even clearer for Sandra watching her own family’s behavior. During holiday gatherings, her parents—who adore their grandson—sometimes make subtle yet hurtful remarks about Sandra’s Mexican American husband, Logan. They’ll ask loaded questions about “how different” his traditions are or comment on the “interesting” way he pronounces certain words. Though they don’t hurl overt slurs, their........

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