I was under the impressions microagressions were the verbal equivalent to poking somebody until they want to punch you

That's basically it. a sort of thousand cuts. The guy who wrote this article has a fundamental understanding of what microaggressions are, and their relationship to trauma. They often have more to do with institutionalized issues that affect a multitude of people than they do a single person's individual problems, or a single traumatic experience.

He also misrepresents the black student angry at being touched. Here's more context from the article he links:

- This is the only black male student in his program.

- This is not some kid. He's a Phd candidate.

- The teacher didn't like where a discussion about critical race theory was going, and decided the best way to do that was to shake this guy's arm to get him to stop. That is 100% inappropriate physical contact, full stop.

Like, if you, A teacher in a Phd sociology program, are unable to effectively communicate with a Phd candidate in a conversation in your own field, and feel compelled to physically shake him, then it's you who have a serious problem.

All in all, you know what this article smells like to me? It smells like this comic:

with its associated editorial.

I constantly see blogs and articles about the “veteran divide” in this nation. 1% protecting and serving the 99%. Veterans often feel alienated and alone when they return to the world, taking solace only around other veterans that have shared their struggles. No one understands us, but have we made an effort to understand civilians? Maybe it’s not the 99% with the problem, but the 1% that needs to come back down to earth.

War is an extraordinary thing to go through, but life is relative. Your experiences do not invalidate those of others.