Being ethnically ambiguous in this world can come with a lot of baggage. When your ethnicity is supposedly too vague for others to recognize upon first glance, people often have a hard time deciding–based on a myriad of assumptions and stereotypes concerning POC– what to expect of you. Thus, the following annoying af shit ensues.
1. People always want to know “where you’re from”
2. No, like, where you’re “actually” from
3. And if it’s not “where are you from”
4. It’s just point blank “what are you”
5. And if they don’t ask, they’ll just fucking guess
6. And guess and guess and guess
7. Sometimes people just won’t believe you
8. And will lowkey shame you for not being “ethnic enough”
9. Even if they do believe you, they will still make like they DON’T BELIEVE YOU
10. If there’s no outright questioning, there’s probably a bunch of unspoken assumptions about who you are as a person
11. Or maybe just some unadulterated, blatant stereotyping, regardless of “where you’re from”
12. Strangers might approach you in public venues speaking languages you definitely don’t know
13. Or might just assume that you don’t speak English
14. The word “exotic” gets thrown around A LOT
15. In fact, backhanded “compliments” of all kinds are RAMPANT
“You’re pretty/smart/funny for a [insert ethnicity] person!”
Don’t ask, don’t assume. It’s that easy!