Do people ever mistake your ethnicity or race just from your appearance?

[Keli]

And if they do, how do you handle it?

My dd Ashli is often mistaken for an ethnicity that is not hers by birth. Her actual ethnicity woud be German/English but she looks Hispanic, especially in the summer when she's out in the sun a lot or going to the tanning bed frequently (like right now). People ask her about it all the time and often people assume she speaks spanish. (Like yesterday when someone came up to her in Walgreens and was asking her something in spanish. She told the woman she doesn't speak spanish and in very broken english the woman asked her where the bathrooms were) At first Ashli didn't know how to take this but now it just makes her smile. She even bought and proudly wears a t-shirt that says "Everyone Loves A Latin Girl" across the front.

I just wondered if there were others out there that have similar situations?

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

This happens to me too! Although my parents both have typical "Saxon" looks, I look hispanic (we have native american blood). Plus my name is Angela, so that must mean I speak spanish, right?! I used to work in retail a few years ago when we lived in FL and one day a hispanic customer spoke to me in spanish. When I tried to explain I didn't understand him he got angry and said, "Your name is Angela right?!" I said yes, but that I still didn't speak spanish. He yelled at me that I was hispanic and lectured me about learning the language to preserve my heritage. I just let it go and agreed to work on it. My mom thought it was hilarious!

 

[MinnieM21]

I don't really as much as my mom but my mom does ALL THE TIME! People ask her, are you Mexican? She's Spanish and I guess a lot of people don't know the difference go figure. But my poor mother can't even speak the language, but my grandparents obviously do. People always speak Spanish to my mom, asking directions, wanting to know if she needs help while in a store, someones lost..you name it. Praise the Lord her DD knows some Spanish.

However, I do get the, "you look you kind of Asian?" So strange.. (Grandma's dad is from the Phillippines(sp?)..I wouldn't think it could get passed down to me but oh well) BTW my best friend asks me this question all the time, she'll say "You look kind of Asian today."

 

[Alysa]

People ask me all the time what my daughter "is"...
It drives me MENTAL!
Her dad is Koran and my parents are from the UK but DD is 100% Canadian and beautiful and what does it matter what her background is!? And how is it anyone's business?!

We call her our sugar and spice baby

 

[ilovepcot]

Alysa.....afraid I've been guilty of asking that very thing. I'd drive you mental!!! There have been many times when I've approached a total stranger and asked (always with a smile on my face) what nationality they or their children were. I always explain that it's because I find their coloring, bone structure or something about their appearance very appealing. I suppose because of my innocent motive in asking and also because I'm truly paying the person a compliment, it's never ocurred to me that I was doing anything wrong. And I have to admit, I find it unusual that people this day and time would be sensitive about their heritage. After all, the entire world is now a hodgepodge of all types of ethnic backgrounds. I'm sure your daughter's beautiful....that's why people are asking!

 

[cheyita]

My DH gets it once in a while. Most Hispanics recognize he is also of Hispanic origin, seeing as they start speaking to him in Spanish. However, he's had quite a few people think he is either Native American or Greek.

 

[Cindy B]

My husband gets it as well.

He's been mistaken for Isreali, Greek and even Northern Indian.

When he gets tan, he gets REALLY dark!

 

[snoopy]

I'm the opposite. My sister and I are the only blonde, blue eyed, tall women in a mostly short, dark, Italian-American family. We've been hearing the "milkman" jokes for years.

 

[Robinrs]

I am always being mistaken for Hispanic, I think because of my hair. It doesn't bother me that much, I do know some Spanish, enough to let them know I don't know a LOT!

My friend's adopted daughter is half Mexican and half Iranian, and grew up in a Jewish household.

People come up to her and start talking Spanish immediately and she knows NO Spanish at all. I taught her to say "I'm sorry, I don't speak Spanish" in Spanish, and also, unlike her Mom, taught her NOT to be offended. Her Mom would tell her to just ignore them, which I thought was wrong since it IS a part of the child's heritage. Some people....

 

[ladydancer]

My dh use to get it alot and now our son does. We have 3 children but our son looks most like his dad. Dh isn't out in the sun anymore as he use to be.

People would ask me if my dh is hispanic? I would answer NOOO, he's AMERICAN. It use to really bug me.

He doesn't have any hispanic in him. He has dutch and english that we know for sure.

Of course in the summer time it is worse because of the sun.

Our son now in his late 20's went to his bowling league last year and got there a little early with team mates. They decided to go into the bar and get something to eat before they started bowling.

This drunk guy started making comments out loud about how "Mexican's should go back to where they came from"! At first my son wasn't paying any attention to this drunk guy. Then he got louder, but my son didn't realize he was talking about him.

Then he walked over to my son and got in his face and said it again. My son told the bartended he had better get someone to get him out of here or he would!

The bowling alley through the guy out. Then about 10 minutes later he came back in. My son then told the bartended he had better call the police. My son at this point took the guy and through him down to the ground and held him until the police came. Turns out the guy was out of jail on probation. So he went back to jail.

There have been alot of other things said over the years. Too many to mention.

Point is it is a shame people have to go through this.

 

[helenabear]

I don't understand it, and I certainly don't see it, but yes, others have mistaken me before. Mostly Latina (again, I don't entirely see it) and especially so when they see me with my husband. But even alone I've been asked if I am at least part one of many different "ethnicities" (the most shocking was if I had Indian in me). Honestly it doesn't bother me and I just smile. Only once in a blue moon does someone come up and start speaking Spanish directly to me. I can hold my own sometimes with that but prefer it when my husband is around to take over

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I have dark hair, green eyes( not hazel) and olive skin. My Dad is full blood Italian and my Mom is half.
People always ask if I am Mexican or they just start spitting out spanish at me . I dont speak a single word Or I get the whole "What tribe is your family from ?" Do I really look American Indian ?

my favorite thing that is said to me about my kids is " Are they full brother and sister ?" DD is blond ( she has her hair colored brown right now ) and blue eyed , DS is dark haired and green eyed .

 

[HollyJoy]

Yep! My REAL background/ethnicity is German/Welch/English, but a lot of people think I'm Greek or Italian! None of that in my blood... at least that I know of!

 

[browneyes]

I get mistaken for a redneck from time to time. Until I start talking anyway, then around here I get called a Yankee (but Yankees make fun of my southern accent ).

 

[mep319]

I get mistaken for Hispanic when I'm tan, especially when I lived in FL...I'm a "heinz 57" as my dad liked to say...but primarily Irish & Polish. Having Marie as my name doesn't help...people automatically jump to Maria.... I really don't tan much anymore so everyone now thinks Italian. I think my skin is a bit fair for Italian but I have the thick dark wavy hair & dark hazel eyes. DD also gets Italian even thought DH is mostly German, Scottish and Native American...he is blond w/ blue eyes...she has the dark wavy hair w/ dark eyes! But we are true Americans... DD has more nationalities in her than the UN!

 

[luv2nascar]

I haven't but did have someone comment to me once when with DH and oldest DD who is very blond and blue eyes
"way to keep the arian(??) nation going"
we are german. I was highly offended and afraid of these nazi freaks

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I'm half Asian and half white. I get mistaken for a lot of different things. Or some people just say you look exotic. Usually I just smile, and act mysterious. It is kind of a personal question, and I'm not really in the habit of getting too personal when people I don't know comment about my appearance.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

People always think I'm Irish. Ireland is a lovely country with beautiful people so I take it as a compliment but, sorry to report, I'm not from there nor are any of my ancestors. We're actually Italian, French, Welsh (sp??) and Romanian.

 

[onecoolmama]

Originally posted by minniepumpernickel
I'm half Asian and half white. I get mistaken for a lot of different things.

My kids are this mix too and my son always gets mistaken for Italian. And I am always asked if they were adopted.


DH is Asian, but looks hispanic. So, people always speak to him in spanish. He knows spanish, so he can follow along, but it does annoy him.

 

[jrydberg]

I've had a good number of people assume I'm Jewish based on my last name. No biggie, but happens often enough.