Why are so many U.S kids weirded out when it comes to culture and ethnicity?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Glo★
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Glo★

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I would be honest with her. Her questions may be very genuine. She simply may be ignorant ( lack of knowledge) to the facts and is only asking questions as most of us do. We are only capable of understanding what we already know as fact or out of what we know; from experience or what others have shared. This may be factual or fiction. If she does not know then simply tell her the truth and advance her knowledge. Perhaps she does not know anyone other than you from another ethnic background. I would not be offended by her questions just yet. Stand back and look at it from a different perspective.

I will share with you a story from my childhood, a very long time ago. I was raised in uppper middle class neighborhood there were various cultures of people (of European decent). However, I had never met anyone who was Native American. A young girl came to my school (private) and she was Native American from OK, she told me she lived on a reservation prior to coming to Ohio. I asked her quite ignorantly (was not informed) other than television. Did she live in a tepe. She was highly offended. Of course. However, the next day after speaking with her mom she came back and explained she lived in a home as well a great deal about her culture. Her father was a university professor, her mother a musician and piano teacher, both highly educated. Many of us only know the stereotypes of others. Very sad, very true. She and I became very good friends (life long) which has lasted to this day over 35 years.
 
Well it's out of ignorance, kinda. Im half Jamaican, and I've lost count on how many people have asked me "does your family grow pot?" "does your grandma wear dreadlocks?" "where's your accent, mon?" Just next time say to her "Samoans are people just like everybody else, we're not as different as you think." Hope that helps
 
Since elementary school (I'm a junior now in HS) kids have always been interested in my ethnicity (I was born in Samoa, moved to NY when I was like 1)
I don't mind it much, I'm alot of ethnicities, I guess you could call me a mutt (though I don't like the expression much)
But one friend likes to constantly ask me the same stupid questions, like "do your people live in tree's?" "do you have hospitals and houses?" and I'm like yeah we live in trees and sleep in mud beacuse we are totally behind the times, she's a real moron sometimes :)
I don't think it's her intention but I feel like she's trying to demean me or make me feel ashamed for not being born in the US. What should I say to her next time she brings it up?
Well we've been friends since we were 3 so I'm pretty sure she's just trying to get a laugh out of it lol it hasn't changed.
 
Some people are just ignorant. Do your best to educate your friend. Obviously your friend is a little clueless about that great big world out there.
 
no offense to your friend but that's really ignorant! who is she to assume that her ethnicity is better...what ethnicity is she i wonder? you should tell her seriously that its not funny and how arrogant and silly she sounds. also maybe she desnt know that it is actually offensive? maybe she thinks it really is funny and you agree that it is. well just so you know not all US kids are like that-- if i dont know something about someone's enthnicity then im happy to learn more-- not make fun of it. good luck w/ her!
 
Well most people act really weird about race/ethnicty because there not really used to people not having the same religion/race/ethnicity as them or hanging out/talking to them. ily!:)

<3

xoexoh
 
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