Why do people ask?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Yes, the world’s color is changing, it very apparent in the statistics.  We all must adapt to the new changing face of the human race.  But why must people ask other’s ethnicity?  Maybe it is in order for judgment.  We live in a society where everyone is being judged constantly in public.  "Sometimes people must put you into a category  in order to understand you."  

       For example, if you look very unkempt or smell, you could be labeled as homeless by others that know nothing about you.  The same principle may apply here.  People may ask a biracial person what ethnicity they are in order to set standards for what they expect the person to act like.  If I were to say that my mom is Caucasian, and my dad African American, they may say that I am a “light-skin”.  This term means that I have the characteristics of an American America woman that has a lighter color of skin.  Stereotypically, they act as if they are better than others (especially in the African American race).  They also might use this information to judge my appearance.  Often biracial children have curly hair, large eyes, long eye lashes, “perfectly” tan skin, and the features of their parents.  After the initial question of what are you, and my response, I am asked “Are you mixed with anything else?”  This is because I seem to not have the “average” features of a normal biracial female.  Also, a judgment is passed about my parents.  After saying my parents’ ethnicities, they ask which one is which.  I assume this is out of curiosity, but it can also be because they would like to classify my parents.  When I say my mother is Caucasian, their response is “oh, she likes black dudes”.  Well obviously because she married my dad, but what does that have to do with anything?  When I say my dad is African American, they often think of him as a stereotypical black male that likes only Caucasian women.  All of these judgments are very common and relevant in our society today.  I do not think these judgments are very true, and only increase the frustration of the person being asked. 

        But then, being the tolerant person I am, I try to give the asker the benefit of the doubt.  I say to myself they are just being curious.  It is very easy to believe that people are curious about my ethnicity.  It is not every day that you will see someone like me walking around.  And if you do it is because you are noticing the world is changing.  If I were of one ethnicity I would too be curious of someone who does not have all of the features of one race.  Many find that after being asked, the person who is asking sometimes will tell their ethnicity mixed with nationality, in order to connect with you.  It is somewhat comical that the other person states that they are one-fourth German and the rest is Irish, when both of these nationalities consist of a mainly the Caucasian race.  But there is importance in knowing the difference between nationality and ethnicity.  Nationality deals with the country one comes from, and ethnicity deals with the race of a person.  I can be of the Hispanic race and come from either Mexico or Spain.  This refers back to wording how you ask.  It helps us try to understand why you are asking.  If you ask my nationality, I will think you are curious which country I came from because I look different, but I always reply “America”.  (Lazo) If you ask my ethnicity, I will reply “Biracial, mixed with African American and Caucasian” (Because I know that the “Mixed with what?” question will be coming soon after)  I do not mind that others may be curious about my ethnicity, and I am never offended when I know that it is out of pure curiosity.  Judging by the circumstance, I can to tell the difference, and will respond accordingly.