Layered, sometimes subtle and unconscious, forms of racism that are a product of racist societal structures and ideologies. These can consist of real or perceived everyday slights or insults that communicate hostile or negative messages to marginalized individuals. These aggressions may seem unassuming, but their effects on those whom they afflict can be detrimental. Typically, isolated microaggressions are inflicted at the scale of one individual.

Large-scale or overt aggression toward those of a certain race, culture, gender, etc. Macroaggresions are often considered to be more extreme, overt, and on a larger scale when compared to microaggresions.

As we are well-aware, the COVID-19 virus disporportionately affects those who are immunocompromised, older, and have pre-existing health conditions. These disparities in viral impact are also observed between race. Similarly, individuals of marginalized populations are more likely to be victims of micro/macroaggressions.

Wearing a mask is one of the best known ways to protect yourself and others. Drawing this connection to micro and macroaggressions, we might think about wearing a mask as learning more about our language and becoming more cognizant of microaggressions we may unconsciously utilize. By educating ourselves on our own biases, we can help to protect others against micro and macroaggressions. Important to remember is that education is an ongoing process, and thus, like spreading COVID-19, it's always possible that we might unintentionally "spread" microaggressions even as we become more educated.