During first introductions, the most common questions after "What is your name?" is "Where are you from?" To this, I normally answer "San Diego," "California," or "San Diego, California." However, what most people really want to know is "What are you? What is your race?" The questioners are only half interested in my hometown whereabouts, they are more interested in knowing my race. But the question "What is your race?" is rude, therefore, it is masked by the more politically correct, "Where are you from?"
Nevertheless, the hidden nature of the second race inquiry becomes patent when traveling. People always politely ask where I'm from, and when I say the States, they typically say, "Oh. The US. But your heritage is Asian, right?" It is then, that I politely answer their true question of ethnicity, "Yes, I'm Chinese.
Therefore, if I say that I am from America, I am not really from America in the questioner's eyes. So should I just say I'm from China instead? I'm not alone in this quandary. Hispanics, Africans (the over 50 different nations!), Middle Easterners and Asians in the US all face this problem of a second heritage. So then again, maybe having a second part answer is part of the American equation. Because the United States is melting pot of cultures, to be American is to have roots in another country. To be American is to have family, both recent and past, that has immigrated to "the land of opportunity."
I know that my answer to the question "Where are you from?" will always have a second part. And I welcome the question and embrace my ethnicity. I have black hair, dark dark brown eyes (apparently black eyes don't exist), and a flat-bridged nose. Yes. I'm from States, but I am Chinese.
Haha, a real convo as I was typing this entry.
German: "Hi, where are you from?"
Me: "The United States."
German: "You don't look like it."
Me: Chuckle "Yes, I'm Chinese."
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2 comments:
I so know where you are coming from, darling. I get this a lot in Africa. People here aren't as sensitive about race like in the States (odd, I suppose, because of the apartheid history) so I've gotten some passing comments that are meant to be just that but are somewhat mildly offensive. I take it all in good stride. Remember the "japonais japonais" comments we received when we were in the Loire Valley? Glad you are well and thankful of the luxuries you have. Stay safe.
This is a real question when we on the road. I know your feeling. Maybe I'v never go abroad, everytime meet the question, I could say "I'm from Shanghai", just because I'm in my own land. I like your peformance. You still think you're Chinese, that's good. At least, you really know where you are from. I just finished a novel--ROOT, a long history about the Black of US. They never give up to collect their Africa memory, which make me moved.
These days I'd been preparing my test of the company. Now I'm not working in the countryside. Call me if you can.
Good luck and best whish to your darest friend.
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