“You’re not Muslim are you?” a guy from university once asked me. My heart started beating really fast as I searched for words.
I felt like I was being asked a trick question. I am proud of who I am and all but that particular time I hesitated. I felt like I was about to be ousted. What perceptions does this guy have about my religion?
Will he think of me differently? “Yes – but I’m still me!” is what I wanted to say. What I actually said was “Well – my parents are (mumble… mumble …mumble)”. I wish I could go back and punch myself in the face.
Many have written about how immigrant kids—those whose parents or grandparents migrated—generally feel a greater sense of loss and isolation. You’re thinking, “Quit whining”, right? I was lucky to be born, educated and raised in one of the best places on earth. I agree. So what’s the problem? Identity. The world is based off of identification. It feeds off it.
Superficial adjectives like ‘black’, ‘rich’, ‘white’, ‘fat’ are meant to sum up a person’s entire complex history and identity in a single word. We form assumptions as a result of these words and what they have come to mean to us in our own contexts. We define others based on those words and we allow them to define ourselves.
Top Comments
I'm not from Australia, I'm actually Canadian, but I identify with your points so much it's like you've read my mind. I wear the hijab, and I love it, it means that I don't have to get out of bed early in the morning to do my hair. But, there is one thing I hate the most, this question: "So, where are you from?" Bitch I was born and raised in Canada, I am a motherf*cking Canadian. And when I say that I get the weirdest looks, then they ask: "No, where are you really from?" Was it not clear the first time? Sometimes I think that if perhaps I didn't wear the hijab people wouldn't feel the need to ask. I mean I have a very pale complexion, so maybe that'll fit into whatever their preconceived notion of what a Canadian looks like. But, I'm never taking off my hijab, so I guess I just have to tough it out against all the racial and cultural ignorance. It's going to be a long life.
What's wrong with someone asking about your ethnic backgroud - white people ask other white people about this all the time. Its interesting!!!
It depends on how it's asked. It's not interesting if you're asked this constantly and singlemindedly- it's intrusive.
The problem we are facing today is that everyone is so sensitive about race. Any mention of someone's ethnicity and you hear the hate mongers frothing at the mouth screaming "RACIST".we really need to celebrate our differences and stop being so sensitive. Just remember, one day people may have no interest in you whatsoever, how will that feel?
I am white and my name is Dutch so I often get asked about it. But I have never been asked outside of that context. My wife on the other hand is Asian, but has lived in Australia most of her life, Aussie accent etc. She is often asked "where are you from". It is racist. An example, when my daughter goes to school she is as if by magic always seated next to the only other Asian girl in her class (it is a quite white suburb generally) and if my wife talks to the other Asian girls parents teachers have said things to her like "oh good, you found each other". WTF.
That's horrible your family has to deal with that! Just remember that comments like that speak more about the person making them than anything else - that they may mean well but they're totally IGNORANT!!