I think it goes deeper than certain people want to admit. It goes to show how even if you are a naturally born citizen, it takes more to be seen as American in our society. There are American passport holders all over the world with no connection to the country or the culture whatsoever. I’d assume the same goes for other countries even with multiethnic populations. If your parents or grandparents are not from America, it more than likely will show in your speech, mannerisms, style, other methods of expression. The Americanization typically happens in or after the teenage years but by then what’s taught at home is usually already ingrained to a degree. It’s no surprise that other Americans that aren’t first generation can sniff this out. It’s probably similar for any country with a history and populations that have been there for long spans of time.

Why people with recent immigrant history here in America pretend they aren’t still very connected to their ethnic groups while still retaining those cultures is disingenuous. This tends to be manifested a lot via interpersonal conflicts that take place within certain Latin American and Asian American individuals who are more than likely tend to be from very recent stock. With recent arrivals of various subgroups vs those that have already been through this rodeo, the “why am I not seen as” is exasperated.

I’m white and my (now deceased) mom used to do this and it was cringe.

However at the same time, my mom was kind, an internationalist traveler and was genuinely interested in a persons heritage because she had a complete shit life with abusive parents until she met my dad. She was very kind and would invite you over for a meal or give you a place to stay if you needed it.

Some people come off ignorant but they just don’t know any better.

I’m curious to hear what you all think of this. I’m white with an unrecognizable accent that came out of years of not being able to talk right (so not a pleasant memory to relive with strangers). I get asked this question a lot. I really want to say “Hope you don’t ask this to someone you think LOOKS different!” But most of the time it happens at work and I have to avoid any confrontation. I really have no idea how to respond to this other than to literally answer the question and then they get confused or throw in the “but where are you REALLY from??”

It’s annoying as hell, but I started using it as a filter. The people who I end up becoming friends with don’t ask me that question and I will share my story later on. They know better.

As a nonwhite Brit I feel your pain.

Sometimes I say I’m American when I am asked what my ethnicity is.

Actually do often.

I’m Filipino, white. But American.

But all in all, I’ve only been out of the country once.

I’m always slightly surprised, irritated, and disappointed when I am in London, with the wealth in British diversity there, and at least once on every trip I endure the same questioning. I’m Latina and look indigenous (think Hawaiian or Alaskan native), and have what some people have told me is a California accent (it’s just the typical Hollywood accent to me). Even with my strong and clear American accent, people either don’t believe I’m American or insist I must have been born in another country. They think I’m playing a joke on them. A lot of comments here come from White Americans that don’t understand covert racism and how it wears POC down. Traveling non-White comes with a whole host of anxieties and aggravations unique to non-White Americans, Brits, Australians, Etc.

A lot of foreigners don’t know this and they are curious meeting someone who is not from their country. Seems like a good opportunity to educate people about your American experience. If you’re the Mexican sort of latino it gets even more interesting in terms of the history surrounding the American southwest/California.

I only ask that question if the person has an accent. It usually means that they immigrated sometime after their youth. But if there is not an accent, I figure probability is native born.

Since I’m the first of my family born in U.S. and bilingual, I just tell people abroad that I’m Indian, and add that I’m American-born if asked. Most times gets a more positive response. Introducing myself as American often sparks a diatribe from others.

Youre not white and openly admit to being American at this point?

That’s what travel brings. A vision of other nationalities. The United States is unique in its multiculturalism and history of immigration. It is confusing for them but they are likely just interested. I doubt pointing out your race had any negative implications. Germans look different than Italians for example. If someone looked german and they were from Italy they would get the same questions.

If the conversations go as you say, you might be oversensitive to race assuming it is always associated with racism. It is normal to discuss race.

Just tell them your race that’s what they really want to know 😄

Funny thing seeing an American getting mad at people for not knowing about American things when they themselves don’t, in general, know much about anything outside of the USA.

THe US is thought of as an Anglo country, with some Blacks. So you need to let them know that it is more mixed these days including Latino

We can commiserate when an American born in X is accepted as an X.

Substitute with your country of choice:

Afghanistan
Algeria
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Botswana
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Georgia
Ghana
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Libya
Madagascar
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar (Burma)
Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Qatar
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Korea
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland (Eswatini)
Syria
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe