[Edifsdubs]

I have been born and raised in the Philippines. I am pure Filipina as far as I know. All the schools that I've attended are in the Philippines...and all my life I've been raised as a good Catholic girl. I travel all over the world...mostly within the United States but I never stay more than 2 months a year. I talk and speak Tagalog/Filipino fluently and speak it 90% of the time. Bottom line is, I am Asian...and I should act and think like an Asian girl or a Filipina.

But I don't.

I look, act and think differently than most Filipinas. I even talk in an American accent when I speak English and people even think I have a Californian "Valley Girl" accent (you can listen to my Vocaroo in my signature). My philosophies definitely clash with my strict Catholic and Asian upbringing but I have to keep it to myself especially with my family and in public. People automatically assume I was born in California or somewhere in the West Coast even though I'm more frequent in the East Coast. And my views on sex are totally un-Asian. In other words, I don't act Asian. I act like an American.

Granted, I'm Filipina and I still have Filipina qualities and I hope I will always retain that part of who I am. But I do notice the difference between me and other Filipinas and sometimes I wish I could assimilate myself to the norm.

So what if people don't act their race? Should an Asian girl not be allowed to act White? Or a white guy not act black? Are there certain things that other races cannot do and lines that they cannot cross?

[AntonioXYZ]

Most Asians are like that nowadays - especially North India.

[mincarlie.frymyer]

Bottom line is, I am Asian...and I should act and think like an Asian girl or a Filipina.

But I don't.


So what if people don't act their race? Should an Asian girl not be allowed to act White? Or a white guy not act black? Are there certain things that other races cannot do and lines that they cannot cross?

People should do what works best for them. If you think by yourself: this feels right, and im not harming other people...just go ahead. Stop looking outside yourself for approval, acceptance and happiness.

If people dont bother me, i couldnt care less about how they act.

[lalpphilalk]

I don't know what "acting one's race means."

[GroosteFoessy]

I don't know what "acting one's race means."

Resembling or acting in an archetypal way associated to ones culture - stereotype, basically.

[Sensbachtal]

Resembling or acting in an archetypal way associated to ones culture - stereotype, basically.

Lol, I know what the phrase refers to... I just don't acknowledge it; I play dumb or mock em.

[xFZ3k8Mw]

Most white dudes in the US act like black people nowdays.

[Goalseexere]

Most white dudes in the US act like black people nowdays.

Indeed, in the UK even a lot of middle class white kids speak with "Afro-Carribean" influenced slang. It's not an uncommon sight at all to see wealthy, clearly middle class whites greeting each other with phrases like "WAGWAN?" "wozapnin blud?!". "alrigh' rude boi?!".

[abouthotels]

There's no such thing as acting white or acting black. You act like stereotypical elements from some races. If some white anglo saxon guy speaks with words like nigg or cuzz like Tyrone from the project, than it doesn't mean that he acts like black. He acts like an idiot. Language and behaviour of educated, well mannered people around the world is very simillar, it's not reserved for whites, black, asians etc.

Most values are inter racial, besides, all people should follow their own values. Not national or racial.

[glasscollector]

What's wrong is that some people still have the idea that "races" act or should act a certain way. If you forgot about that, there wouldn't be a problem.

[AAAESLLESO]

Granted, I'm Filipina and I still have Filipina qualities and I hope I will always retain that part of who I am. But I do notice the difference between me and other Filipinas and sometimes I wish I could assimilate myself to the norm.

So what if people don't act their race? Should an Asian girl not be allowed to act White? Or a white guy not act black? Are there certain things that other races cannot do and lines that they cannot cross?

you mean act in a stereotypical way. In any country and especially in a racial group there is variation.

There is no such thing as "acting black". Because there are almost 1 billion blacks on earth from desert dwelling Muslims, to Savanna dwellers, to jungle dwellers...all with distinct cultures and languages. There are also blacks that live in various Western nations from Beligum, France, UK, America, Spain, Latin America, etc. They don't have much in common really. You could say there is acting stereotypically African American, but that is also hard to define without just dwelling on negative stereotypes. When we say acting "black" in America people really mean, 'acting stereotypically African American".

I don't tend to speak ebonics.

I don't listen to much rap music (common from someone of my age)

I'm well traveled (something unusual for an American in general, let alone an African American).

I barely watch TV (also not normal)

I read a lot (a middle class trait that is dying in America, I have more book in my home than the vast majority of people whose home I've been in).

I have a deep interest in international politics and ancient history (also not normal for someone of my age and ethnicity).

This is probably why most of my friends are white and Asian. Asian because I like travelling to East Asia (not as much Southeast Asia) and I speak a little Mandarin, so the people likely to have those interests will be Asian.

I rarely dance


White, many because there are 200 million whites in America, and I know folks in Europe, so...it is more likely in that diversity (compared to 40 million blacks) I will find people with more common interests and attitudes.

Since I was a child, for whatever reason, I've never followed "the crowd much". I always felt what I liked and found interesting was superior, and most people my age were stupid. (I still believe this). So "groupist" cultural trends did not have a great affect on me, at least not as much as normal herd followers.

Although I understand "groupism" that is intellectual. I have never understood it emotionally. I think it is for base low brows who can't think independently, abstractly, form their own identity, and are too cowardly to stand up for their own beliefs and ideas to a group. They are more concerned with being called a "sell out", "weird" etc. they draw self esteem from a group, and not internally, so they will always be a "slave". No thanks.

I like the way I am. I prefer to lead, even if I can only lead myself, than to follow.

[TainuibeFaimb]

I suppose I am talking about the Asian or the Filipina stereotype even though I'm sure like with all cultures, there is an existing diversity within my group. I have a hard time fitting within that stereotype and I do have some conflict with what people expect of me as a Filipina AND a doctor...but other than that, I have no other problems.

Hmmm...somebody, who shall NOT be named has called me a banana. I didn't even know what that is until it was explained to me that I was yellow on the outside and white on the inside.

Oreo, banana...they're all describing people acting something they are not. But I don't think it's such a big deal, like some people have said, there is diversity within a group. Not all blacks are ghetto or not all Asians are college nerds.

[Qahtwugc]

I don't tend to speak ebonics.

I don't listen to much rap music (common from someone of my age)


I barely watch TV (also not normal)

I read a lot (a middle class trait that is dying in America, I have more books in my home than the vast majority of people whose home I've been in).

I rarely dance

We have more in common than I thought.

[TNgqZhLR]

Indeed, in the UK even a lot of middle class white kids speak with "Afro-Carribean" influenced slang. It's not an uncommon sight at all to see wealthy, clearly middle class whites greeting each other with phrases like "WAGWAN?" "wozapnin blud?!". "alrigh' rude boi?!". It's funny, i dont speak like that because i speak like a normal english but i often use slang with a tint of Cockney and London I dont say wagwan or alrigh, rude boi because well i dont use that slang or speak like Jamaican.

[InsManKV]

Personally I'm very cultured insofar as to what I eat; a combination between culture and religion.

I dress like a westerner; it is best to assimilate within my surroundings without appearing deliberately or overtly odd.

Now I can speak with a very broad local accent, or manufacture my speech to a very clear standard of English - you mentioned accents - as I feel it gives me a psychological advantage over an 'indigenous' speaker, however I do come across, inadvertently, as a 'coconut' amongst my own ethnic group.

That's as far as my anonymity with 'IC4' goes. Though that said, the average 'IC4' round my parts don't carry a great stereotype, and I do try to refine my own character, constantly.

[WenPyclenoWex]

So what if people don't act their race? Should an Asian girl not be allowed to act White? Or a white guy not act black? Are there certain things that other races cannot do and lines that they cannot cross? [/B]

I think it's perfectly natural that if you or your parents immigrate to another country, you gradually start adapting to that country's dominant culture. It would be more problematic, though understandable, if you desperately tried to cling on to your 'ancestral culture' while you're simply out of touch with it. For example, many second-generation Chinese immigrants take up Mandarin or Cantonese when they're about 18, but actual native Chinese are always going to be able to single them out as foreign.

Now, someone actually living in the Philippines and trying to act American, that would be questionable, not to mention ridiculous.

[SQiTmhuY]

I have been born and raised in the Philippines. I am pure Filipina as far as I know. All the schools that I've attended are in the Philippines...and all my life I've been raised as a good Catholic girl. I travel all over the world...mostly within the United States but I never stay more than 2 months a year. I talk and speak Tagalog/Filipino fluently and speak it 90% of the time. Bottom line is, I am Asian...and I should act and think like an Asian girl or a Filipina.

But I don't.

I look, act and think differently than most Filipinas. I even talk in an American accent when I speak English and people even think I have a Californian "Valley Girl" accent (you can listen to my Vocaroo in my signature). My philosophies definitely clash with my strict Catholic and Asian upbringing but I have to keep it to myself especially with my family and in public. People automatically assume I was born in California or somewhere in the West Coast even though I'm more frequent in the East Coast. And my views on sex are totally un-Asian. In other words, I don't act Asian. I act like an American.

Granted, I'm Filipina and I still have Filipina qualities and I hope I will always retain that part of who I am. But I do notice the difference between me and other Filipinas and sometimes I wish I could assimilate myself to the norm.

So what if people don't act their race? Should an Asian girl not be allowed to act White? Or a white guy not act black? Are there certain things that other races cannot do and lines that they cannot cross?

Why do you want to assimilate to 'the norm'?
Is it for yourself, or for others, so they don't judge and label you or feel uncomfortable with some of your ways?
If you are just being yourself I would not worry much about whether others judge you as being Filipina enough. You set your own norms, maybe you represent further diversity amongst your countrywomen or the coming of new perspectives and norms with the younger generations who are better traveled, educated and more global in outlook.

There is no such thing as acting one's race. Acting Filipina is at least a more narrowed concept and there is nationality and history and culture as a tie.

There is no such thing as acting black, or acting white.
There are too many differences in just my own family to support some concept of an AA monolith much less a 'black' one.
All the class, social, economic, regional, cultural, ethnic differences in the US negate any concept of diverse peoples acting in accordance to race or continental origins.

[ptmQqoxw]

People should choose the identity they're comfortable with, as long as they are being genuine with themselves and not being fake. No one else has the right to judge you or tell you to be different. Hater are gonna hate, but don't pay attention to them.

[Mr Andrews]

Why do you want to assimilate to 'the norm'?

because she is Asian. She wasn't raised in your individualist culture.r

[HaseBeceDeemy]

because she is Asian. She wasn't raised in your individualist culture.r

Touché !