Lovelyish

Personally, I just say I’m mixed, because I am.  When people say “I’m African”, I’m not thinking about their skin tones, and when I say I’m mixed, I’m not saying that I’ve got the skin tone of a mixed-raced person.  I’m just stating where I’m from.  And the generalization of where someone is from always seems like a conversation opener, where you ask “Oh, where in *insert country* are you from?!”

xo’

What about the actual Native Americans (American Indians, whichever you prefer)? You just want to steal their identifier? lol Might as well; we stole everything else from them. 

I think we should just use the term American.  Native American is for Native American Indian tribes and we’re not all Native Americans.  I do have some Native American ancestry but consider myself “white”.  I don’t know any white person who seriously calls themselves European.  I don’t use most geographic labels… I use black, white, Asian, Hispanic.  I think we should should all use American and give up any hyphens (unless we were born in that country) and be Americans all together. 

It would be easier to see us as one, if everyone saw themselves and others as Americans when someone asks, “What are you?”

Most people don’t know my race to begin with, I think it’s funny when people try to guess. 

Long story short: Nationality=What nation you come from. Ethicity=What your racial background is. I love when people ask my nationality & get pissed when I just say American. That’s the nation I’m from. I can see why people get the two mixed up but I can tell when someone genuinely doesnt know & when someone is basically racist. ALOT of people assume latinos are all tanned with dark hair & dark eyes. Cameron Diaz is half cuban & she has blonde hair, blue eyes & fair skinned, just like my professor who is also Cuban. There’s also a part of Jamaica where all the people are very light skinned with light hair.

Pretty much unless you come from a Xenophobic culture, no one is 100% anything. Why cant we celebrate our differences & similarities & move on? I’m happy with all that I am & I dont mind discussing it.

@six6vi@xanga - LOL I know what you mean. I get alot of answers & sometimes people have come up to me speaking in Languages I didnt know existed. I think the oddest guess I ever gotten was Native Hawaiian. (I’ve never been anywhere close to Hawaii in my life! haha!). They guessed that because they just came back from a trip there & said that Native Hawaiians looked similar to me.

@TiredSoVeryTired@xanga - Asia is a continent, now isn’t it.

I identify myself as American. But I also respect the heritage of my ancestors who came to this country.  I’m Pennsylvania Dutch (German), Irish, Welsh, and French. There are so many different European cultures it is difficult to describe yourself as that. Irish is very different from Italian which is very different from Ukrainian.  But they’re all European.

And also as a side note, and not to start an argument, I don’t see why Jewish people don’t identify themselves by the country their ancestors are from.  I mean I’m Catholic but when people ask my heritage I don’t answer with Catholic. Again I’m not trying to start an argument, I’m simply just curious.

Hmmm.  Interesting.  I’m not sure if I agree with this, but I definitely don’t disagree.
When someone asks me, “What are you?” I say, “What do you mean?  I’m a girl?” and then they say, “No, your nationality” & then I say, “American.” And then they give me a look.  I do it ’cause they’re asking all wrong + I’ve been asked the question a million + one times.  From now on I’m gonna lie & say I’m half Filipino & half Hawaiian.  Fun stuffs

Ps, I never say “European”, nor have I ever heard someone say that’s what they are.
Pps, I don’t see skin color

@Love_never_fails - I totally see what you’re saying. Over the years I’ve heard “Jewish” being described both as a race & a religion. It’s confusing but it’s a very sensitive topic. I grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood too. There was a synagogue right across the street from my house!

@soulfuric - Well, yes Asia is a continent.  That’s why I said I don’t use most geographic labels, instead of saying I don’t use any.  I don’t know of any other non-offensive terms for Asians.  

Well, it sometimes gets a little confusing if you do it that way because most Americans are not Native American and there is definitely a difference.  I’m Japanese and from the state of Hawai’i.  I’ve had friends study abroad and have to repeatedly explain that being from Hawaii doesn’t make you Hawaiian in the same way that being from California makes you Californian because being Hawaiian is an actual ethnicity.

I think if you’re American you actually have to clarify, “This is my ethnicity; this is my nationality” because we aren’t like countries where most people living there are actually that ethnicity as well.

I also think many people don’t identify as plainly American because we’ve been cobbled together over years of immigrants from many different countries and those immigrants brought their cultures with them.  Therefore, a lot of people identify with that parent culture as well as American culture.

this is something that has always annoyed me. when checking the boxes in forms it asks if you are white (of non hispanic origin), african american, asian, hispanic , etc. all i can think is… seriously? lol. my skins white. do they mean caucasian? if so, my moms straight from over the border so… i am hispanic. but my dad is as gringo as it gets. of german and english descent. but wtf does that even mean? lol. its been generations since his family sailed from europe. so its not like that  part of our heritage means shit. i mean, i cant call up someone in germany that i am related to. most americans i know are proud italian or irish or african americans but they havent had family in those countries for hundreds of freakin’ years! so what the hell is all that pride for? we cant freely live in those countries or have rights there JUST CUZ our great great granpa or whatever was from there. we are american to them. that is the worst part of being american. lol. we arent african american, or irish american, or whatever american. we arent native america (unless you really are). we are north american? then again so is canada… lol. how about we are human. i like that. human beings. 

America is a relatively rootless nation, and it has no singular ethnic identity, so individuals will always be eager to claim vague ancestry overseas. If you happen to have a face that is more obviously “foreign,” people will be interested in it because you can’t even pretend that you don’t have roots elsewhere. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing until people start saying things like “go back to where you came from.” We are all Americans, and I am sure most of us are proud of it, and there is no harm in celebrating the other parts of our identities.

And people cast geographical nets because it’s a lot safer than saying “are you Japanese?” and then highly offending someone who happens to be Korean.

Do you think if the term Native American was attached to all Americans, that it would easier to see us all as one? Yes, I just imagined this and I feel united already.

There are so many different countires in the African Contient, all contients actually, that you can’t desricbe one person by the same of that contient.

@TiredSoVeryTired@xanga - While it would be much easier to be thought of as American, not everyone is going to see you as one. For example, I get quizzical looks all the time when I’m asked where I’m from and I say I’m from Canada born and bred. The people I’ve come across always say, “No, where are you really from?” It’s somehow assumed that I wasn’t born in Canada because I’m Asian.

@ShirleyD@xanga - So what you’re saying is that since we’re all “American” we have to forget our family that did come here from overseas? I happen to at one point have 5 generations living at one time.  My great grandmother’s (who just passed away about a year ago) grandmother was from Germany. I have had a direct relative serve in every war from the Civil War until Vietnam. I’m supposed to forget all of that? That is something I take pride in. Maybe it’s just because I like history but my family background is very interesting to me.

@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - Most people just guess “Black” for me. Whatever that really means. lol

@ShirleyD@xanga - most americans i know are proud italian or irish or african americans but they havent had family in those countries for hundreds of freakin’ years! so what the hell is all that pride for? we cant freely live in those countries or have rights there JUST CUZ our great great granpa or whatever was from there. we are american to them. The ‘pride’ is to not be ashamed regardless of what society may say, but I understand what you’re saying and I agree with it.

@six6vi@xanga - According to the census (*sarcasm), it means having roots in one of the African countires.

Americans always tell me I’m too white to be Hispanic or can’t believe Christina Aguilera, Frankie Muniz, and Cameron Diaz are all Hispanic.

I just tell myself, hey, at least I’m not that ignorant.

That last bit is why I hate when people call me Native American because it’s such a misnomer already but then you have this concept that anyone born in the U.S. (or any North, South or Central America) is technically Native to America.

Sure calling everyone Native American would probably make people feel more inclusive and connected but the term already has very specific connotations and would definitely marginalize actual American Indians which is consists of unavoidable geographically groups of real people. So yeah, sorry, don’t think I’m down with that. 

Also, wouldn’t calling everyone Native American be doing something similar to calling someone Latino or African? you’re still referring to many people in a geographical sense.

@theflowerstem@xanga - It’s funny because this past census the word for us was *negro.

@Love_never_fails - No I am not saying that.  Talk about misinterpretation. Hey,
if you know your family history, awesome. Take pride in it. I’m not
saying I don’t think it is rad to be the millions of “ethnicities” that I
am. My dad’s side as I said is German and English. My moms side, she
was born in Mexico but has French, Portuguese, and Spanish on her side.
But for me, who cares. I have no rights in those countries just because
someone a long time ago was from there. To any other country, I am
viewed as an American citizen and unless my mom or dad (sometimes
grandparents) is directly from said country, I have no business there
but as a tourist or if I’m bringing money into their economy in that
country’s eyes. That is just the way it is. THEY (France) could care
less that my great great great aunty was French. I may even be laughed
at for suggesting I am in any way French.
But if you know your
history, awesome. Relish in it. Do as you please with that knowledge.
There is nothing wrong with it.
Hell I rooted for Germany
and Spain during the world cup because I have some of that heritage in
me and it helped they were the HOTTEST teams. Plus they were the best
players. *cough cough*

@ShirleyD@xanga - Yeah I guess I did misinterpret lol. I apologize. I take pride in the fact that I can legit wear a Kiss Me I’m Irish shirt on St. Patrick’s day even though St. Patrick was from Scotland lol.

@MoonFaeEyryan@xanga - The next time someone tells you that, tell them to go to Spain. Spain colonized Mexico, the Philippines, South America & a majority of the caribbean countries & the Spanish people married the Indigenous peoples of those countries. That is why all hispanics dont look the same but people dont know the history to get that.

I used to work with a guy who was white but had family in South Africa & he said his uncle got held up at the airport by security because he identified himself as Nigerian but he was white. He is from Nigeria but alot of people assume if you live/come from Africa, you’re black.

@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - lol same!

This is a wide topic.. I break it down in 4… Nationality, Ethnicity, Craniofacial anthropometry, and the human race.

I don’t know why this is underlining and I can’t stop it…

I basically think we all started from one place and spread out and adapted.. Just a theory though… No one will ever know for sure because we were never there.. Well except the first people or things that were there..

@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - Actually a lot of people who “descend” from Mexico know the history but it isn’t exactly excepted because it’s “here say” and if you break it down even father… There is some studies shown the indigenous people from the America’s them selves descend from both Asia and the Mediterranean.

Spain is not the only people who mixed at the same time France and Germany were out there… So Hispanics are a wide mix of people… Genealogy search is a damn bitch for my family… lol

@six6vi@xanga - Japanese.

@ShimmerBodyCream@xanga - A quarter, yes.

…and race has no genetic basis whatsoever; it’s simply a cultural construct…

@Love_never_fails - Some of my ancestors came to America in the early 1600s, so I don’t feel any real connection to those countries other than, oh that’s interesting.  It’s not like I’m going to deny I’m German, but I don’t know any family members that weren’t born here in the United States.  The most exotic thing in my family is my grandpa was born in Illinois and everybody else was born in New York.  

@heart_leigh@xanga - Well then I’d say you were Canadian.  We can’t help that some people are fools and decide that certain people can only be born in certain places.  If you are an American citizen, then you’re American whether some people can handle it or not (same for Canada).  Do you like vinegar on your fries? lol I love that McDonald’s in Canada have packets of vinegar for your fries.  

@ShirleyD@xanga - I hate those boxes too. Godddddddddd I’m white but I have hispanic origins myself. So it’s annoying just to be considered white when my last name screams hispanic. I agree with you. 

@soulfuric - I quite agree

@MommyMarty22@xanga - LOL same for mine (I’ve been on ancestry.com for years & cant get leaves to save my life! XD!!). And you’re right too! The Philippines is an excellent example. That’s why there are so many different groups within the country but they’re all proud & dont like nitpick the way others do. Asia is mixed too but because of WWII, it’s a sensitive topic & no one likes to talk about it much.

America is a huge melting pot. I like to say it’s more like a quilt, interwoven with many pieces to make one thing. There’s a mix of everything & it shows in the names of places, foods & even building structures! =) I’m a history fanatic so I love talking about it & most often people call on me to settle debates about things (like these. haha!)

@TiredSoVeryTired@xanga - I didn’t mean to put anyone down or anything. I misinterpreted what she said. I guess I am just lucky to have had family roots to my close ancestors in my lifetime.  My mother’s Irish ancestors came here during the Irish potato famine of the 1850′s which is relatively recent compared to others.  I did have great great grandparents who were from Germany and were alive the same time as my great grandmother who I was lucky to have in my life. So I feel some sort of connection to my heritage.

@Grtt@xanga - I was about to say the same thing
calling non indigenous people Native American would invalidate their identity as being here before columbus

I do agree that more people should realize that America isn’t just one color, but at the same time that doesn’t mean we have to neglect our heritage

as for what I refer to myself
I say I’m from so and so city but my parents are from lala nation

@Love_never_fails - I understand.  I think for some of us in America we have no connection to any of our distant heritage.  My family is purely American.  There is nothing that isn’t American about my family culture.  There is nothing about our food or customs.  We are English and speak English but that’s simply because we live in America.  We don’t speak Dutch, French, German, Gaelic or Mohawk.  No family traditions are from outside America.  The closest we get is that my Grandfather was raised in the “German” section of town.  But that doesn’t exist anymore.

@Hinase@xanga - If you have Hispanic origins you don’t mark yourself “White, of Hispanic Origin”?  My children are half-Mexican so I like to screw with the census and other things that ask for race and list them as both “white, not of Hispanic origin” and “Hispanic”. lol  

@TiredSoVeryTired@xanga - Except they never have that box. It’s always of no hispanic origins or other crap. 

@Hinase@xanga - I think it’s like a subgroup of “white” with no Hispanic and “white” with Hispanic.  Technically, Hispanics are “white” (they are listed as white on birth certificates) so they divide the group to count the Hispanics.  That’s why I check both boxes for my kids.  They are half white with no Hispanic and Hispanic.  

@Hinase@xanga - Oh, sorry… just looked up the last Census.  It asks if the person has any Hispanic then a later question asks about “race”.  There are other forms for other things that have the “white, not of Hispanic origin” and “Hispanic”. 

I’m a Cinnamorollian

Well, usually when people ask what you are they want to know your ethnicity. And not everyone will agree and a standard set of those, so people will interpret them however they want.

@TiredSoVeryTired@xanga - It’s okay ;P

After reading this, I thought “uh.. wait, what?” Because it doesn’t really make sense to me. I’ve never in my life referred to someone’s nationality just by seeing the color of their skin. @Grtt@xanga - aw, yeah, we totally did

This is why I prefer to be called “Black” rather than “African-American.” Being black is more of my heritage than being African.

If this means people stop asking me where I’m from when they damn well know I’m an American, then I’m all for it.

If you want to know my ethnicity, then just ask me what my ethnicity is. I’ll be glad to tell you. Asking “Where are you from?” is just going to get you a blank stare or a bunch of smart-ass responses.

Nationality =/= ethnicity

Or it just comes from the fact that we all historically are not from America.  Unless you wanna start calling people black, white, yellow, brown.  I think using one’s ethnic roots as a means for describing physical attributes is the most acceptable terminology to date. 

Nationality is about what NATION you originate from. I was born in America, therefore I am American. Ethnicity is about your race/skin color. I’m Caucasian. Unfortunately, the terms for skin color are all over the place- being ‘asian’ includes people from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc. but today, the term ‘asian’ is just meant for those from China, Japan, Korea, etc. Stereotypes, they’re everywhere. Not even the check box on the SATs could label nationality or ethnicity properly. I left it blank. A lot of my friends from the Middle East have no idea what their ‘identity’ should be because they don’t feel black or ‘arab.’ So personally, I stick to nationality. I’m American. And no, not ‘Native American’ because I’m Caucasian. I think Native American is an ethnicity/race.

People look at me and say asian immediately.
I don’t know about colour but asian faces are so easy to identify

@Love_never_fails - Are you wondering why they don’t say they are from Israel or why they don’t say their ancestors are from.. e.g. Poland or Germany?

I guess they don’t say Israel, because the country is new and their ancestors maybe have never been in Israel. And the reason they don’t identify with the country where their ancestors lived right before they immigrated to the US is because they weren’t really welcomed in those countries and were outsiders and a minority wherever they went. They had something similar to Chinatown. Because they were hated by others for their religion, they identified themselves with their religion rather than their nationality.

People get confused when I tell them I’m English. I’ve got a mild Scottish accent.

Blame my mother for raising me in this craphole of a country. ENGLAND FOREVER.

@TiredSoVeryTired@xanga - Yes, vinegar on fries is sooo tasty! Anyway, being called American or in my case, Canadian, I surmise the majority of people would assume you were the American/Canadian over someone who looks like, well, me.

It’s often difficult for me to describe my background because people always ask – where are you from and my first instinct is to say America. And then their all like – oh you know what I mean! And I’m all like – yeah, but that’s not what you said. I personally am American in Nationality and Nigerian and Guyanese in Ethnicity (black). Because of that I’d add a third option to this mix, there’s a big difference between Nationality, Ethnicity or Heritage and Race. Because you can be white and hail from Africa. Most likely you ethnicity or heritage will be European of some sort, but it’s possible. I always think about this when considering Hispanics or Latinos, because there’s a big issue about Hispanics that refuse to accept their black African Race ancestry and play up their white European Race ancestry. I read a few article that talked about how in many Hispanic/Latino countries the one drop rule works in reverse and anyone with an inkling of white blood will say that they are white, especially if they have any inkling of evidence of mixture in their physical appearance – like having straight or wavy hair as opposed to afro-textured hair (many of these article I found on afro hair care websites and forums) or having light skin or eyes. But you know what, all of these things are so subjective, I feel they’re a non-issue. The other day we were discussing race and ethnicity at my job and my manager asked me if I considered myself black-American and I said yes – because I’m black and I’m American. But I’m also Nigerian and Guyanese. I’m all of these things and essentially none of these things at the same time.

The simplest solution to this issue is for people to ask, what’s your background? That encompasses all of the options and once people start talking about themselves, all the information that the asker of the question wants to know will come out anyway.

I don’t think race, nationality, or ethnicity are the same thing but people always confuse them. Race and ethnicity are just ways of classifying people into organised groups and they aren’t definite or really meaning anything. Technically nationality is almost the same thing and none of these are so great at identifying people  because historically they are often changing and because of all of the negative connotations they have. For example, my family is from the region of Transylvania and when my great grandmother was a child it was in Hungary and now it’s in Romania so that makes me (before emigrating to the USA, Romanian.) And go back further, we didn’t even have a country unified until the 19th century therefore I would just say I am European because nation or principality, it’s still on the continent of Europe. ahh… complex!

In addition to that, how far do we go back with groups of ethnicity? Am I a Slav, am I Dacien? Well that brings up a whole new complex argument embedded in history and politics itself.

So, can I have like a timeline of what makes up me? I realise I am not even as complicated as most commenters on this post, so maybe we should just give up?

A person can be identified by the continent they live on and I see how you could associate that with race (because “race” has something to do with where people are geographically, but the whole thing is made up and simply a way to classify people since there are so many of us!)

I think all of this is just something people everywhere should take more lightly.

 First off Latino is a term for anyone born in America of Hispanic decent, so no, it is not incorrect. At least this is what I was taught by my Freshman Seminar proffessor who escaped Cuba at a young age due to political problems.

Everything else you say I can agree with lol. I don’t know where my familly is from so honestly I’m just white & American and that’s it. Yeah, it kind of sucks not having a culture but I like learning about other peoples.

@seasidehearts@xanga - My anthropology professor said there was no such thing as “Hispanic” or “Latino” because Hispanic people are not all the same ethnic background (some have black and Native background, some only Spanish, some Spanish and Basque, some Spanish and Native American, some Basque and Native American, some only German or Jewish background) nor share the same language or culture. It was a blanket term from the U.S. Census to label people who didn’t fit into other groups.

@mycontinuity@xanga - That’s true as well haha my proffessor also said that. Idk, he was strange. He was also racist too haha the white kids were the minority & he confused us for each other constantly lol.

If someone asks me my family background I’ll say it’s Irish, but to be fair my grandparents came to New York in the 1950′s and I still have family in Ireland. So I still kind of consider it a close family background. I’ll generally say I was born in California and raised here my whole life and I consider myself American. The Irish side only comes out when my family gets together and the drinking starts happening anyways :p 

The color of your skin has nothing to do with your heritage/nationality.  I’m Dominican, therefore I’m Hispanic or west Indian whichever floats your boat better.  I’m tan, my mother is lighter than me and my dad was dark skinned.  I go to my country and despite my skin color and our neighbor Haiti’s majority complexion, we have light skinned, blonde hair, blue eyed people.  It doesn’t change the fact that they consider themselves, that we all consider ourselves Dominican.  Skin color, I agree, has to deal with the past.  Slavery, tyranny, people coming over from Europe and Asia and colonizing, and mingling with the natives.  Over all our skin is determined by our countries past.  Our heritage however has always been the same and does not have a skin color.  I believe this is for ANY country.

It also bothers me when people look at me and depending on how I wear my hair determine that I’m either Mexican/Puerto Rican, or Jamaican (or some type of West Indian.) I mean I am West Indian, but I don’t see how they can try to guess what I am because of the color of my skin.  I’m tanned skinned, but so are many other people of many different countries.
Great post

Everyone who is born in America is American, that’s nationality. Your ethnicity is where your ancestors are from, ie. I’m Italian and Irish. They’re two different things. If someone from Europe asks me what I am I say American because they’re asking what country I am from/live in/was born in, I was not born in Italy. If someone from America asks me what I am I say Italian and Irish because we have an understanding that we’re all American but we are curious about each other’s genealogical background since we’re such a melting pot country. 

I have been guilty in the past of stating things like “You look like you’re from this area.”, or “Your facial structure looks like you’re from this country.”  I realize now saying those things can become offensive and is definitely not correct anymore.  The world is becoming more globalized and people are traveling around.  There are white people born in Asia and Africa.  There are stereotypical east-Asian-looking people born in South America.  One of my good friends had parents from India but he was born and raised in Switzerland. I definitely try to minimize on how much I try to assume what country people are from now a days.  I feel like some people do it to sound impressive or worldly.  But it only goes two ways.  If you are wrong about their ethnicity, you’ll look stupid.  If you are right, you’ll look ignorant.  Both ways are bad.

That’s always bothered me. African-American, Asian-American, etc. I always found it weird. Maybe that’s because I’m Canadian. lol I’ve actually only ever met ONE person who is a true “African-American,” despite all the black people I know from various countries and continents. Same goes for everyone else of various skin colours. The terms are ridiculous in my mind. If you were born in whatever country, why must people feel the need to associate you with some other country/continent, simply based on your skin colour?

@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - Yep … I went to school in the U.S., so when I travel there, people usually think I’m from the U.S. because of my accent and the fact that I’m pretty white and have “Caucasian” features (small nose, soft angles, blah blah), when in fact I’m as Mexican as enchiladas and refrito beans (just not the taco bell kind, ’cause that’s not Mexican food).

America is unique because we are the country built up with immigrants. Not many countries openly accept people from all over the world to give opportunity to live here as they want. If you were born here, or have any proof of identification of US citizenship w/ SSN, then you can call your nationality legitimately American. Race is a whole different story. Your race and ethnic background takes you more than just one generation let’s say depends on what your grandfather look like or even the great great grandfather look like. It is a long journey to prove your identification card.

@not3000@xanga - LOL yeah Taco Bell isnt but I eat it because that’s all I have. You wanna know something funny & I SWEAR THIS IS THE TRUTH!! The best Tex-Mex food I EVER ate was made in a Chinese restaurant! It looked like a Chinese food store but when you went in, after you passed the Buddha statue, they were making Tex-Mex food! And I live in New York!

@Grtt@xanga- I actually addressed the original Native Americans and so much more, but Lovelyish foolishly omitted some very important points I wanted to get across about the history of the human race and I was kinda ticked about that but I’m over it now. It seems like with Lovelyish, you’re not entitled to Freedom of Speech.

@MoonFaeEyryan@xanga - When someone told me Frankie Muniz & David Archuleta were both Hispanic, I believed it right away because I know any color can be Hispanic and I agree that it’s very ignorant for people to question someone’s identity because of how their skin appears.

@readyfortheworld1@xanga - Well …it is Lovelyish, lol. I think they’re more geared towards pop culture and fashion, but yes, back in the day (when I actually used to write) that is the reason I never submitted anything to the -ishies. They’re quite liberal with the editing. 

@Grtt@xanga - hahahaha agree!!!!

Honestly it doesn’t bother me what people refer to themselves as.  I traced my ancestry back to fourteen different countries…so some days I’m feeling like a Scotsman and other days I’m feeling German (gimme my potatoes and beer-soaked bratwurst! lol).  My nationality is American.  But I wouldn’t call myself Native American because the American Indians already have their identity closely tied to that label.  Although, I have some Blackfoot and Cherokee in me so nevermind!  I am Native American

Point being though, it’s cool when people get excited about their ethnicity.  Yes, it is different from nationality and people need to understand the difference.  I don’t think it divides us.  America is the great melting pot of cultures.  We’re all still American.  So long as we don’t hate ourselves, I don’t see any issue with being proud of our mixed heritages.

@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - hahahahaha I daresay that is one of THE most random things I’ve ever heard of! At least you know where to get the good stuff

@her_phantasmagoria@xanga - ”Also, wouldn’t calling everyone Native
American be doing something similar to calling someone Latino or
African? you’re still referring to many people in a geographical sense.”

I am referring to people in a geographical sense but I’m NOT applying geographical locations to a person’s skin color which is what this post is all about.

It doesn’t bother me at all.

@heart_leigh@xanga -  But do you consider yourself to be just as American as the people are from the U.S. ? because Canadian is American territory also but Canada just doesn’t have the titled ”Canada America”. Just because the U.S. has the word America attached to it’s name makes Canadians no different from us.

Ethnicity: Chinese
Nationality: Canadian

Us Canadians like to be separate from Americans* (USA)
even though we’re part of “North America”

Usually when someone asks me my “nationality” I just say “American.” I don’t mind talking about my heritage, but I try to avoid that topic. I don’t understand why everyone is so hung up on that. Particularly, I always get the “why are you so dark, then?” question after I inform someone that I am of Mexican, Cuban, and French Jewish heritage. *eye roll*

xx

LOL I agree, many times when I chat online, everyone seems so confused about what I am. Long story short my race is East Indian, my nationality Trinidadian and my religion Hindu. 

I’m Native American (also known as Indian, as in feathers).

I don’t care what you call me, or where you think I’m from or how you label me.

I’ve got brown hair long hair, light brown almond eyes and white skin. I look “white” people tell me I’m “white” I express I’m actually Indian (Native American) and then they ask me about my tribe, which originated in Canada, migrated to California and was then taken over by the army from Mexico when they tried to settle our land.

In the end I’m Native American, a Native to the America’s.

I just say I’m Dominican. 

I hate the questioneers that are like, ‘mark all that apply’ and one of the options is White (Not Hispanic or Latino)

But I’m predominantly Cuban. But also Italian and Irish.why do I have to choose?
Also, I don’t look Cuban, that doesn’t mean I’m not. I’m sick of being called names over this..  

@readyfortheworld1@xanga - You mean, North American? I consider myself Canadian as I’m from there. However, what I’m saying is, it doesn’t really matter that I was born in Canada, because when you think of Canadian, most people would probably not think of me as one. The reason? Due to my appearance.

I thought this was going to be a different topic. I hate being called a racist when I criticise a particular culture. Culture does not equal race.