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I have white skin, but I'm not white.

Maya3

Well-Known Member
I don't use "white" either, generally speaking. When there is a "race" box to be ticked, I tick "other", since those questionnaires annoy me. I don't believe in race. They might as well ask me the gender of my unicorn. Ethnicity or cultural heritage, well that means something.

Well put.

There is only one race, if you can even call it that. It´s one species actually.

Maya
 

beenherebeforeagain

Rogue Animist
Premium Member
Growing up, I was constantly baffled by the hatred and disrespect people--mainly adults--in my community had for each other, based on religion, national origin, skin color...alma mater, favorite sports team...the list was pretty long. At the same time, I was equally baffled by how good-natured all these people were, how everyone generally got along with each other despite their differences--as long as everyone kept to their place. I was one of those who fairly regularly crossed those boundaries because while I knew they were there, I didn't see them myself. Maybe that's because my own genetic and ethnic background crosses so many of the boundaries to begin with--I inherited a disregard for distinctions that others find so important.

So, when describing myself in racial/ethnic/national origins terms, I'm a "Heinz 57", although I'm not sure that's a well-known expression anymore. ;^)
 

MD

qualiaphile
I racially look 'white' (mediterrenean) but I'm culturally Indian and my ancestors are from what is now Iran.

I did a free DNA test (my friend had a discount) and found I was 65% middle eastern/north african, 10% south asian, 10% Chinese and 15% East African (this was a surprise). The test didn't go very far back, only a few hundred years I think.

An interesting tidbit is that a lot of my African American and White American friends discuss my racial classification much more than people from other parts of the world. Race to me is an archaic concept.
 
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psychoslice

Veteran Member
I racially look 'white' (mediterrenean) but I'm culturally Indian and my ancestors are from what is now Iran.

I did a free DNA test (my friend had a discount) and found I was 65% middle eastern/north african, 10% south asian, 10% Chinese and 15% East African (this was a surprise). The test didn't go very far back, only a few hundred years I think.

An interesting tidbit is that a lot of my African American and White American friends discuss my racial classification much more than people from other parts of the world. Race to me is an archaic concept.

Be proud od being white, after all its only skin deep.
 

NobodyYouKnow

Misanthropist
Growing up, I was constantly baffled by the hatred and disrespect people--mainly adults--in my community had for each other, based on religion, national origin, skin color...alma mater, favorite sports team...the list was pretty long. At the same time, I was equally baffled by how good-natured all these people were, how everyone generally got along with each other despite their differences--as long as everyone kept to their place. I was one of those who fairly regularly crossed those boundaries because while I knew they were there, I didn't see them myself. Maybe that's because my own genetic and ethnic background crosses so many of the boundaries to begin with--I inherited a disregard for distinctions that others find so important.

So, when describing myself in racial/ethnic/national origins terms, I'm a "Heinz 57", although I'm not sure that's a well-known expression anymore. ;^)
Funny thing, after reading the first couple of pages, I was going to say I am a 'Heinz 57' but thought nobody would know what I meant, so I didn't say anything....then I saw you said this. lol
 

technomage

Finding my own way
What I am trying to say is that I'm not comfortable with being called "white".
I would wager that instead of white, you're actually somewhere between a beigy-pink and tan. ;)

More seriously, people of European descent, especially in the US, have a history of deliberately invoking a generic "whiteness" for multiple reasons--oppressing non-whites being only one. It's not a pretty part of human history, and all of us (white and non-white) in the US are still dealing with the fallout of that history.

I am three quarters European, one quarter Northern Indian (Romany). If someone asks me my ethnicity, I simply say "Human," and leave it at that. :)
 

Maya3

Well-Known Member
I am three quarters European, one quarter Northern Indian (Romany). If someone asks me my ethnicity, I simply say "Human," and leave it at that. :)

I love that!

You could go on and say that you know that a lot of people assume you are extra terrestrial, but no you are actually human. :)

Maya
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
I am three quarters European, one quarter Northern Indian (Romany). If someone asks me my ethnicity, I simply say "Human," and leave it at that. :)
We have a strange situation here in Michiganistan. I once received a business census form from the state, which threatened prosecution & prison if not filled out (accurately) & returned. I was supposed to list all sorts of info about race, religion, etc. But it was sent by ordinary mail, so they couldn't prove I actually ever got it. I threw it away, since I don't believe they had the right to know such things, which would probably be used against me anyway. (I'm a scofflaw, ya know.) Never heard anything about my non-compliance, & we got rid of that Canuckistanian governor.
Sometimes I list my race as Libertarian.
 

Maya3

Well-Known Member
We have a strange situation here in Michiganistan. I once received a business census form from the state, which threatened prosecution & prison if not filled out (accurately) & returned. I was supposed to list all sorts of info about race, religion, etc. But it was sent by ordinary mail, so they couldn't prove I actually ever got it. I threw it away, since I don't believe they had the right to know such things, which would probably be used against me anyway. (I'm a scofflaw, ya know.) Never heard anything about my non-compliance, & we got rid of that Canuckistanian governor.
Sometimes I list my race as Libertarian.

The census sends people to your door if you don´t reply to it. A lady came to our door, and I told her that my husband and I are Homo Sapien, she was very happy about it and put it in the form.

Maya
 

technomage

Finding my own way
The census sends people to your door if you don´t reply to it. A lady came to our door, and I told her that my husband and I are Homo Sapien, she was very happy about it and put it in the form.

Maya
If I remember correctly, this was a business census sent out by the state, not the official US census.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
The census sends people to your door if you don´t reply to it. A lady came to our door, and I told her that my husband and I are Homo Sapien, she was very happy about it and put it in the form.
Maya

If I remember correctly, this was a business census sent out by the state, not the official US census.
Yes, it was not the fed census. I won't answer those census takers either,
but Mrs Revolt cooperates. So now the fed gov knows me secrets.
 

Kungfuzed

Student Nurse
I've met white people from Africa and blacks from England. It makes no sense to use Continent-Country to refer to race.
 

Caladan

Agnostic Pantheist
My ethnic label never matches the UK surveys I had to fill or occasionally still fill as a student simply because the British definitions are extremely monochrome. They basically pry for your 'race', not your culture or your ethnicity, but shades of skin tone. Also it freaks me out to no end to see forms asking you whether you are 'white' or 'black'. Usually I compromise on:
'Other' -Jewish.
Or simply 'other'.
Or if I'm really in the mood: 'Other' Sephardi-Ashkenazi Jewish.
Hell one time I just put 'Israeli'.
 
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