Is it possible to be of a certain ethnic/origin but not identify as that?

[roxystars19]

For example, I am of Caucasian, Native and Hispanic descent. Because of my common Hispanic last name, many assume that's how I identify. I don't. I didn't grow up in that culture. I grew up with my grandparents who are of European descent. Yet, people get offended that I am not "Latina" and keep telling me to embrace who I am, not be embarrassed or scared, etc.

[virtue2332]

I understand completely. Im native mexican and Dominican but mostly Native. I've been told that I should go back to where I can from and I'm Native so ironic. I've also had Hispanics shame me for not knowing the language like I'm a big sell out. It is uncomfortable when buying something at a store and someone talking to you in Spanish and getting a dirty look when you speak English to them. I look at myself in the mirror and I get it I'm from California people are going to assume I'm from Mexico and speak Spanish and although I've learned some Spanish Im far from fluent and I'm sure it looks even worse to them when I do try to speak but sound like a gringo. Having been in the millitary I realized I was different things depending on where I was. In Japan most Japanese thought I was Filipino or some other islander. Yes and I made the mistake of thinking a Korean person was Japanese? I say don't be offended by it you are what you are a human.

[HighlyVolatile]

From my perspective, ethnicity has little to do with blood or ancestry and far more to do with upbringing and mindset. For example, I consider this person 100% Japanese even though he's half-American and half-black. He grew up in Japan and he speaks and acts and thinks like a 100% Japanese person:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1KMO02xxX1g

He's more Japanese than I am as I see it because, while I'm also mixed and from Japan, I spent my teenage years in places like Singapore and the US. I adopted far more American styles of thinking and speaking and acting, for example.

[HighlyVolatile]

My little sister is also far more American than me, for example, even though we share the same lineage; when we moved to the US she was younger than me and so she ended up acclimating much more to American culture and forgot almost all her Japanese. She also stayed behind and lived in the US for almost her entire life now while I moved back to Japan in my 20s.

[HighlyVolatile]

So from my standpoint in the above video, he says he's 100% Japanese and I accept him that way. If I had my eyes closed and just listened to him speak, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference anyway between native Japanese (not just given how fluent he is in Japanese, but also given the way he thinks). I don't think it would be kind to suggest to him that he should embrace his American heritage because that's asking him to embrace something he neither experienced living in Japan all his life nor identifies with himself.

[HighlyVolatile]

But I think also no one but Native Americans could be considered "Americans", for example, if ancestry factors in. So many would be English, Spanish, Irish, African, etc. But I don't think so many Americans of English ancestry would appreciate it if we encouraged them to embrace their British side if they've lived in the US for all their lives and across generations, for example, and identify as "American".

[Anonymous]

Well you're not white even if you feel white so just identify as yourself or mixed and not any certain race or ethnicity I guess

[roxystars19]

But I am. I don't identify with the Hispanic culture at all. I don't know my roots there or the culture itself. I may have it in my blood, but it's not in my heart.

[Opinion Owner]

White means looking white and being fully or mostly European by DNA

[roxystars19]

Not every white person has blonde hair and blue eyes, just like not every person from Africa is black. Check your facts.

[Opinion Owner]

Your not white if you look mixed, sorry. It's not about blond hair and blue eyes, it's about DNA and features.

[Opinion Owner]

You're*

[Anonymous]

Yes, I'm as white as a ghost but on job applications I identify as being african-american.

[NaultD]

Sure. People's lifes can go in any direction on this globe. An American child could grow up in Europe because of military parents. Then went to university in America meet there spouse from africa and become nationalized citizen where there spouse is from. Then they have kids and take a similar journey backs.

They can embody all these experiences equally or emphasize different parts as they see fit.

[ODC2112]

In the US you have completely distorted what an ethnic group is. Ethnic is a group of people who recognize that they have common ancestors, be it the real thing or not. Caucasians, or Native Americans, are not an ethnic group, they are a pseudo social group in American politics. The fact that you are of mixed ethnicity means that you cannot fully recognize you in one group or another.

[jshm2]

No. You are what you are.

Otherwise we would all identify as apache attack helicopters.

[Xtendable]

Its funny how people like to assert their opinion hey. I grew up in a European family, but I don't identify as such, with my cultural and ethnic history kept from me

[KostasKouvalis]

You can identify as whatever you want in this woke society

[Anonymous]

It’s almost like Democrats want to tell you how you should behave based on your race.

There’s a name for that. What was it... hmmm. 🤔

[anylolone]

Yes, more than possible.

Ethnicity is mostly cultural.

[KrakenAttackin]

Sure. If you can be born with a dick but "identify" as female, anything is possible.

[Katya98]

I think you shouldn't care what others think

[exitseven]

Ask Elizabeth Warren.

[noohair]

Try to just be a human, everything else is tribal.

[BLP11520]

Yes, I believe that can happen