Do you ever lie about your race, ethnicity, culture, or nationality?

Question

Do you? Have you ever lied about your heritage or culture? If you so, what lie did you tell and what is your actual race, ethnicity, culture, or nationality?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I'm a filipino and I've been living in Thailand for 2 years now. Westeners and all my students (both thai and koreans) usually mistaken me as a chinese, korean or japanese while Thai people always mistaken me as a Thai. Everytime I would buy outside or I would meet new co-teachers at school, they would identify me immediately as one of them. No offense, but I don't think I look a thai in my opinion TBH. I even asked my students if I look like a thai and they would immediately say I don't look like a thai. But what I find really frustrating is that once I proudly announce my nationality to a thai people, they would scoff at me, roll their eyes or glare daggers at me, treat me coldly or would suddenly act as if I never existed (based on my 2 years of experience living in Thailand).

So sometimes, I would fake my identity saying that I'm half japanese born in the Philippines (since I have really decent japanese) or that I'm a filipino but one of my parents are half korean or chinese or something like that. I have naturally pale skin and my mom always says that I don't act like a typical filipino (maybe because I'm just naturally anti-social).

So yeah, maybe because of those reason why sometimes I would fake my identity. Don't get me wrong though. I love Thailand, I love my nationality, I love all my True Thai friends and I feel sick whenever I fake myself most of the time. It's just because I'm scared of being a victim of racism from those kind of people who hates my country.

sorry for my wrong grammar. I'm not an English teacher nor am I a native English speaker

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Not anymore but when I was younger I used to lie about being biracial or multiracial (as in having parents or grandparents of different races) because I had a lot of issues with myself and most people assume that I am anyway. if it wasn't just me they were asking about, the kids in elementary school used to ask if my mom was mixed because I guess she looks even more mixed than I do. so one day I stopped answering "no" when someone asked and I started making up sh*t lol

Ive been irish, native American, italian, german, british, french, south african, creole, and once I was dominican but that was when I was older and for kicks. I wanted to see how convincing my spanish was mostly. I was also a pretty smart kid and I knew a lot of things about different cultures so it wasn't hard for me to lie. and I could always chalk up what I didn't know to being younger generation or being closer to one side of the family, etc.i was pretty young when this was happening though, like elementary and part of middle school.

im just plain old african American black though. I'm no more mixed than most black Americans. and I'm actually okay with that now. :)

as far as nationality, no I've never lied about that. don't see the point, you can probably tell that I'm American by my accent or I don't know the way I spell certain words. seems pointless.

jamiejean1021 · Accepted Answer

Well my dad is German and Native American but was raised by his adoptive grandparents which were french while my mom is Dutch and Irish. To list all that is kind of a lot, so since that Native American features are most prominent in me, I usually tell people I am native, when they ask further though I explain that my grandma was full so that makes me a quarter.

GorrilamiLLAA · Accepted Answer

Well, many of you are WHITE so OBVS you won't be lying, there are other races other than white or German decent Scottish, Irish whatever that would feel more inclined to lie on say.. an application due to the color of our skin and the constant suppression we go through. Luckily for me, I look white AF but I actually grew up in central Mexico, my family is from Mexico and I have indigenous roots like Azteca & Zapotec that I'm super proud of and also very interested to discover more about. BUT. I did lie to my last employer about being white bc I knew how they worked and only wanted Caucasians.. You can totally tell from a little research at what you're getting into haha fooled them silly is what I did, they never found out or even if someone did I was already employed, it's not like you can sue? It is actually voluntary here in the state of Texas. Anyway, my main point it that, yeah sometimes we do lie but its becasue we have to. It sucks but hey as long as I get my dream job or to pay the bills in the meantime I really see no wrong in lying, in actually, I feel they should not even be asking such questions for what? Look at my experience don't be a biased asshole.

martyfellow · Accepted Answer

I don't but many in my family deny they are Italian since they would face discrimination from the dominant Anglo culture, nearly as much as Hispanic or African American people do.

Anonymous · Answer

I don't lie...but sometimes I don't tell people I was born in Africa because I get A LOT of ignorant comments from people like "Where the f*** is that" or "Do you ride elephants or giraffes to work" or "I have a friend from Nigeria...do you know her"...dumb sh*t like that.  So since I don't have an accent...you can't really tell.  I only tell people that I think will have something decent to say about it.  Otherwise I prefer not to tell people and just say I'm African American.   And it has nothing to do with  me not being proud of my heritage...but I just hate when people have mean or ignorant things to say about it.  Therefore, I'd just prefer they not know. I just say I'm African American which really isn't lying but I don't feel the need to be specific about it.

PoeticNinja · Answer

Yes, I have. A few times actually.. I always told people I've met, that I am 100% Asian (Vietnamese) just because I don't like being half black.

Till they met my mother and the truth comes out. I mean, it's not that I am ashamed of being half black but there's really no point in saying that I am. I look more Asian than anything. -.-"

desidoll · Answer

I am originally from South Asia but was born in East Asia.No I never lied about it even though I know some bigot might dislike me for that.I won't lie just because I want to please everyone.I am proud of my race and heritage.

peace-love-couture · Answer

I have no reason to, so no!

I'm biracial, Hispanic & black, a Texan from America

Although, I have told people I don't speak Spanish just because I didn't feel like showing them around the store(they thought I worked there!)

gemini72 · Answer

No I have never lied about my heritage.  I am what I am.  Half british and half french...like it or leave it.  More importantly, I am Canadian and to no one, would I ever lie about that.

thatoneguy17 · Answer

No never have. I'm pretty sure people know I'm Mexican when they see me. I don't have to lie as it wouldn't work. I am proud to be what I am anyway so that is something I wouldn't lie about.

justme20 · Answer

no. I love my heritage and my ethninicity. my father is full blooded haitian and my mother is irish, black, white, blackfoot and cherokee indian and I wouldn't change it in the world :)

Betwyn · Answer

I don't lie about it...  I'm obvs white... I'm glad I live in the best country in North America... and I'm interested in my heritage...

Cuddle_Muffin · Answer

Yeah sometimes I hide the fact I was born in the u.s its embarrassing

Prettygurl12 · Answer

No...I see nothing wrong with telling people that I'm 50% Dutch and 50% Finish and and a Caucasian who lives in the U.S.

Morningglory3 · Answer

No. I don't have a reason to lie. I'm pacific islander and white.

99PROBLEMS · Answer

I live in switzerland   But I come from a different country. And the people from my country have a bad reputation in switzerland. And I lied many times and said I'm swiss :D

Xx_DRE_xX · Answer

NO not really, I'm biracial but I never tend to mention I'm white.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes, I lie and say i'm Canadian. I'm was actually born in America, but i'm ashamed of it and lie because i wish i was not American.

Wyzzerd · Answer

Nope. I'm proud of what I am. Why shouldn't I be?

Carley99 · Answer

No I'm proud of who I am

ManaX · Answer

No, never have, never will.

Prof_Don · Answer

Nope... not at all.  P. S. I'm a black dude

vishna · Answer

Nope :)

CindiluvsFriends · Answer

No..why would I?

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