often times when people meet me, the first thing they ask is my ethnicity. why is it that people feel like they need to fit you into a category of ethnicity before they can define who you are?
i'll speak about my country, my religion, my family, and all the things that help to make up who i am.... but i refuse to define myself in racial terms.
how about you? do you think your race has anything to do with who you are?
2006-11-09 17:56:42 · 7 answers · asked by Living MyTruth 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
I GET THE SAME THING, PEOPLE HAVE THAT INNOCENT CURIOSITY WITH A HINT OF RACISM, BUT IT SHOULD BE NOTHING TO GET OFFENDED BY UNLESS THEY BECOME OFFENSIVE WITH RACIAL COMMENTS AND OTHER THINGS. PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME IF I AM HALF WHITE, OR HISPANIC, SOMEONE EVEN ASKED IF I WAS FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC....I JUST KINDLY TELL THEM THAT I'M BLACK WITH A PINCH OF EVERYTHING....BECAUSE TRUTHFULLY, NONE OF US ARE PURE ANYTHING, WE ALL ARE MIXED WITH SOMETHING ELSE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE.
2006-11-09 19:02:43 · answer #1 · answered by goldie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i can understand why people like yourself may feel irritated when asked this question all the time but personally speaking, i don't mind other people generally asking what ethnicity i am. some of the answers i get are mostly Japanese and one person even referred to me as Korean but i corrected them on this of course. but i don't feel that annoyed about it nowadays; rather its a good way for me to set the record straight and tell it as it is because certain people don't know; therefore, they form assumptions or they are just unsure. its good for them to ask because they want to know don't they? and plus, they are curious about it.
though i do talk about my education, upbringing, family, friends, hobbies and other stuff as well. do i think the colour of my skin defines who i am? well, it does ring some truth i suppose, but its not as if its something i want to bring up all the time. though its mainly what i say, do and think that really defines me as an individual and human being.
2006-11-09 23:09:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think race or culture actually has a lot to do with who we are. Maybe people ask you because you have certain features that are attractive and not the "norm" for us plain ol' Americans?
My daughter in law is always asked if she speaks spanish as her first language. She replies... "Yeah we learn it at birth in ITALY."
Her appearance could be from any where, but her temper is ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ITALIAN! (LOL I know that is a stereo type , but in her case it is realllllly true)
HI ROSE Marie!
2006-11-09 18:04:19 · answer #3 · answered by dbzgalaxy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it may but it can be extremely overated.
But people who ask about your ethnicity may really be wanting to get to know about you or (as they perceive it) your ethnicity.
2006-11-09 18:02:50 · answer #4 · answered by San Diego Art Nut 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well it's probably small talk, don't be defensive about it. I'm sure the last thing they are thinking is, categorizing you for your ethnicity, that's you thinking that, and assuming that's what they are doing. Don't be paranoid!
2006-11-09 18:02:58 · answer #5 · answered by beachdiva954 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry people do that. I don't think race really matters. I don't think race has anything to do with who you are. We are all the same race, the human race. We are all created equal and loved by God.
2006-11-09 18:01:31 · answer #6 · answered by OMGJessica 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking as a friend - I don't have any clue.
If you are talking romantically - it may have to do with their tastes in physical features.
2006-11-09 18:00:53 · answer #7 · answered by Itsalongnight 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋