Russell Hammond
Member
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2005
- Messages
- 100
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Chicago
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Slightly Liberal
There is something weird that goes on with the question: "Where are you from?"
If the question is being posed to a white or black American, the answer the questioner is seeking is something like "Shreveport, Louisiana" or "Des Moines, Iowa"
If the question is being posed to a Latin American, Arab American, or Asian American, the answer the questioner is seeking is not "Tuscon, Arizona" or "Canton, Ohio", but "Mexico" or "China". And what's worse, if this brown person you just met responds "I'm from Chicago", you respond, "No, where are you really from?"
Why? Why do we treat whites and blacks as Americans, but treat latinos, Americans of Middle Eastern descent, and Asian Americans as foreigners, no matter how many years ago their ancestors arrived in this country?
In fact, why is it so damn important to find out whether someone is of Puerto Rican descent or of Indian descent? And speaking of the latter, why do you think it's a cute follow-up question to ask "dot or feather"? Do you ever think about how someone feels when you ask these questions? To always be "the other"? To never just be an American?
If the question is being posed to a white or black American, the answer the questioner is seeking is something like "Shreveport, Louisiana" or "Des Moines, Iowa"
If the question is being posed to a Latin American, Arab American, or Asian American, the answer the questioner is seeking is not "Tuscon, Arizona" or "Canton, Ohio", but "Mexico" or "China". And what's worse, if this brown person you just met responds "I'm from Chicago", you respond, "No, where are you really from?"
Why? Why do we treat whites and blacks as Americans, but treat latinos, Americans of Middle Eastern descent, and Asian Americans as foreigners, no matter how many years ago their ancestors arrived in this country?
In fact, why is it so damn important to find out whether someone is of Puerto Rican descent or of Indian descent? And speaking of the latter, why do you think it's a cute follow-up question to ask "dot or feather"? Do you ever think about how someone feels when you ask these questions? To always be "the other"? To never just be an American?