May I ask what people do/want to do with this information? When I was younger and used to tan (as a swimmer/lifeguard) sometimes at the end of the summer I'd get people speaking to me in Spanish, but generally speaking I look like a white person who is white and, you know, white. So I've never been confronted with this.
Do people just want to KNOW so they can make a mental check? Does it lead to follow up?
Post by cattledogkisses on Jan 28, 2015 12:35:25 GMT -5
I think it's fairly normal to wonder in your head about someone's ethnic background, but you have to be pretty socially inept to actually ask out loud.
May I ask what people do/want to do with this information? When I was younger and used to tan (as a swimmer/lifeguard) sometimes at the end of the summer I'd get people speaking to me in Spanish, but generally speaking I look like a white person who is white and, you know, white. So I've never been confronted with this.
Do people just want to KNOW so they can make a mental check? Does it lead to follow up?
They want to know so they know what box to check for you.
Got it. A sea of unofficial census-takers. That's what I thought.
How irritating.
ETA: I'm not saying I'm above wondering or something (I remember being like "ah, I see that" when I learned one of Olivia Munn's grandparents was Chinese), I just wouldn't ever ASK. Like, what am I going to do with that information other than know it?
I'm obviously black enough not to have these questions asked of me. I just get folks asking if my fro is mine.
I used to get that when I had dreadlocks to my butt.
Ok, I'm naïve, but who's fro or dreadlocks would they be? Are they actually are asking if you have a fro or dreadlock wigs? I thought they would just ask to touch your hair.
Wait, are black and white people are asking you this?
I have gotten the question from both races. And to me, I don't look THAT mixed. Like, I feel like I am blatantly not mixed. But my brother is all "LOLOL no, sis, you are redbone as fuck."
truth.com I had to refrain for commenting on how badly you need a tan, LOL
I'm obviously black enough not to have these questions asked of me. I just get folks asking if my fro is mine.
Whose fro would it be?
Chile. Weave. These folks think it's weave.
I told ya'll, I came out of the office one day and this lady stops me.
Lady: "Excuse me. Can I ask you a question?" Me: thinking it will be a question related to where I work - "Yes, ma'am." Lady: "Is that all your hair?" Me: "Yes ma'am, it is." Lady "Hmph." She walks off. Me: thinking - well damn, what is that supposed to mean?!
I told ya'll, I came out of the office one day and this lady stops me.
Lady: "Excuse me. Can I ask you a question?" Me: thinking it will be a question related to where I work - "Yes, ma'am." Lady: "Is that all your hair?" Me: "Yes ma'am, it is." Lady "Hmph." She walks off. Me: thinking - well damn, what is that supposed to mean?!
Your hair is glorious. She was jealous and hoping she could buy her own.
I told ya'll, I came out of the office one day and this lady stops me.
Lady: "Excuse me. Can I ask you a question?" Me: thinking it will be a question related to where I work - "Yes, ma'am." Lady: "Is that all your hair?" Me: "Yes ma'am, it is." Lady "Hmph." She walks off. Me: thinking - well damn, what is that supposed to mean?!
OMG - that is the best way to get out of asking judgemental questions, just "Hmph" and walk away all annoyed as if their answer was wrong. I'm going to try this...
Post by StrawberryBlondie on Jan 28, 2015 13:59:29 GMT -5
Omg. I missed that this was a reporter from People. I was thinking it was some reporter from the East Bumblefuck Daily Journal who won a contest to be on the red carpet or something. But People??
I'm trying to figure out how your lightskinned ass is talking? Hmmm
RIGHT. Ova here talmbout she blacker than me.
Now, iammalcolmx, you know you my sis from another mother, but you are squarely over here with me. I will sit and admit that when my hair is straight everybody is like, "you look like Santana from Glee!" so I've come to terms with my inner Kerry Washington toffee brown not looking like my actual Naya Rivera high yellow. And my genes are weak den a mug because my kids look at best half Arabic or Mexican or Filipino or something.
*pats seat next to me* you know you belong right here.
Now, iammalcolmx, you know you my sis from another mother, but you are squarely over here with me. I will sit and admit that when my hair is straight everybody is like, "you look like Santana from Glee!" so I've come to terms with my inner Kerry Washington toffee brown not looking like my actual Naya Rivera high yellow. And my genes are weak den a mug because my kids look at best half Arabic or Mexican or Filipino or something.
*pats seat next to me* you know you belong right here.
My personal favorite was "Where did you get that good hair from?" . I can't deal with folks plantation luggage. People usually ask me if I am mixed race well into a conversation. I am assuming because they think black people are simple in Georgia so the only way I can have exposure to anything else is having a white parent...........
But you ain't light, remember??
I'm not going to the corner, though. I refuse to make it easy for you to beat my ass.
nuggetbrain - yes, chile, you look good and mixed. I feel like I have the opposite reaction. "Oh, you're black?"
I feel like I rarely "look" it. Well, except to a lot of black people.
I'm like "I AM BLATANTLY BLACK. I AM LIKE, TWO STEPS FROM LUPITA."
Ok so maybe not, but you know what I mean.
You totally look black to me.
The funny thing to me is that people are always trying to claim me. When I lived in PA and NY and shit, newspaper vendors would ask me if I was Pakistani and shit. Native Spanish speakers at work stop and ask me if I'm Hispanic.
This confuses me because I can pick a biracial person out easy peasy so why can't other races pick out their own?
It's okay, summer. At least your babies look like they have some kind of color. Me and meshaliuknits picked our white babies up at some kind of swap meet or something.
It's okay, summer. At least your babies look like they have some kind of color. Me and meshaliuknits picked our white babies up at some kind of swap meet or something.
Pinky can't even get a tan, ffs.
Right? Imma hear about "where's her mother" for the rest of my life.
I told ya'll, I came out of the office one day and this lady stops me.
Lady: "Excuse me. Can I ask you a question?" Me: thinking it will be a question related to where I work - "Yes, ma'am." Lady: "Is that all your hair?" Me: "Yes ma'am, it is." Lady "Hmph." She walks off. Me: thinking - well damn, what is that supposed to mean?!
Now, iammalcolmx, you know you my sis from another mother, but you are squarely over here with me. I will sit and admit that when my hair is straight everybody is like, "you look like Santana from Glee!" so I've come to terms with my inner Kerry Washington toffee brown not looking like my actual Naya Rivera high yellow. And my genes are weak den a mug because my kids look at best half Arabic or Mexican or Filipino or something.
*pats seat next to me* you know you belong right here.
::pouts::
Un huh. G'won ova there and have a seat with summer.
My personal favorite was "Where did you get that good hair from?" . I can't deal with folks plantation luggage. People usually ask me if I am mixed race well into a conversation. I am assuming because they think black people are simple in Georgia so the only way I can have exposure to anything else is having a white parent...........
But you ain't light, remember??
I'm not going to the corner, though. I refuse to make it easy for you to beat my ass.