if you’re only a quarter of something? Timster’s blog brought up an interesting point. I’ve known a person who was 1/4 black and he looked white as toast. Another guy I grew up with was a quarter Japanese and also looked white as butter. I imagine that a vast majority of people who are 1/4 nonwhite and 3/4 white look overwhelmingly white. Maybe once you know they’re not fully white you may be able to see some nonwhite features, but that’s probably with the benefit of already knowing.
HOWEVER race is an ever evolving construct, so back in the day when the one drop of blood rule applied, you could be considered black for as low as 1/8th, 1/16th, and even 1/32nd black heritage. So one black great great great grandparent could have made you black. And considering how many white people have nonwhite ancestry, that’s wild. Of course it’s even much more common for nonwhite people to have white ancestry, due to colonization and slavery.
Let’s not even get STARTED on the Latinx community, since it literally encompasses every race under the sun. For example, one of my childhood friends claims to be Latina since her grandmother speaks Spanish and was born in South America. Yet her grandmother is actually of Palestinian descent while her grandfather is Japanese. Her grandparents on her other side are Jewish and Italian. She does not look traditionally white at all even though she’s half white, maybe even 3/4 if you go by the US census and consider Middle Eastern and North African white. And yet she identifies as a Latina because of her grandmother, who’s from South America but of Middle Eastern descent.
But I think Timster brought up an interesting point. IMO appearance shapes so much of how you’re treated that no mere percentage can indicate whiteness or not. For example, I doubt someone like Cameron Diaz has been discriminated against even once in her life for being Hispanic. Halsey is half black but is passing as fuck, however most people who are half of something look at least a little like both. So I say take it on a case by case basis, but if you’re less than half of something I’d feel iffy about claiming it. Then again, percentages don’t dictate your culture, your experience, how you were raised etc. So idk lol.
For the record, I am half European and half Middle Eastern. I identify as Middle Eastern, but most people assume Im full European because of how I look, although when I tell them I’m part Middle Eastern they say they can see it. But mostly I get mistaken for Italian or in rarer instances as Jewish, even though I’m only a tiny bit Italian and not Jewish at all. But that’s what I get mistaken as. #Race y’all. It’s wild.
Comments
In my opinion if you don't look like a specific race or get treated like them, you shouldn't be claiming being that race. You can be proud of having that in your blood but if you look white and are treated like you're white, it's not your place to claim to be POC. The issue with POC is that they don't get as many privileges as white people and if you're treated and seen as white, SHUT THE FUCK UP and aknowledge your privilege.
Amazing blog! Thank you for going into detail about my question. You made a great point about your appearance being the ultimate factor on how you're TREATED/perceived.
Culture also kinda screws everything up. Like you said your friend identifies as latina due to the culture of her grandmother but has none in her. It makes things complicated. Especially for afro-latinos that obviously look back but were born & raised in south america. South Americans might not see them as latino and black people might not see them as black. (altho technically they are basically black dna-wise but the slave boat dropped them off in latin america instead of USA).
But ye.
Also why I don't claim Mariah Carey as black. She's clearly 1/4 lmao at best i'd say she's mixed cause she is.. but her dad was not full black you can tell he was mixed too.
Wow ok so I'm glad I took the time to read this even though I'm super tired. You're so detailed in presenting your thoughts and I love the perspective you take on this. As you said it's interesting how differently people's thresholds vary in terms of claiming to be of a certain ethnic origin (and the whole concept of how the passage of time will have a similar impact on what someone is considered to be).
The whole thing with the Latinx community was interesting. I find it strange that she says that she's Latina based on just that - I wonder if part of it has to do with a lot of racism against those of Middle Eastern descent now; I've noticed people claiming different identities to just fit in too sometimes (like someone who may be half-half will claim to be one part of their ethnicity / emphasize the one that will benefit them more).
And I totally agree that in the end, unfortunately despite the fact that it really doesnt matter you often get treated based on what you ultimately look like you are (whether it's because of your race or your overall appearance) which is I think somewhat natural for first impressions but highlights biases inherent in a person and also some people can't separate that from their ultimate opinion of another person which is a shame.
And from what you said about people lying about their true ethnicity due to racism heightening for certain communities (Middle Easterns, Mexicants) I remember someone said if an Americunt is traveling and they go to a country that doesn't like Americans (I guess uh... Russia?) you should tell people you're Canadian so you don't treated the wrong way.
Timster I was gonna say we had such similar responses!! Like literally using the same words too (appearance - ultimately or whatever). But yeah definitely, I'm from Canada but I've heard people say that for sure about pretending to be Canadian or emphasizing you're from Canada so that you can be treated better too.
I think that you shouldn’t be ashamed to claim apart of who you are whether you pass or not. Someone who is 1/3 Japanese and the rest white might not experience discrimination that Japanese people experience but that doesn’t mean they don’t qualify as part Japanese. Your hardships don’t define you. If they feel like a part of that culture and are proud of it then let ppl embrace that part of themselves. For example, I’m a good chunk indigenous but I look super white. I’ve never experienced racism towards native ppl but I still consider myself indigenous. Ppl read too much into this shit and label themselves way more than they have to. Just live life and be happy.
