Ethnicity is a complicated and deeply personal matter, so naturally it’s one of the first things strangers want to know about you. If you’re ethnically ambiguous, here’s a few of the well-meaning questions you get pretty much every day.
1. Where are you from?
Who asks this: An acquaintance who wants to know if they can get away with telling racist jokes in front of you.
How to respond: This is the easiest one to deflect. Just say ‘Winnipeg’ – that usually ends the conversation pretty quick.
2. But like, where’s your family from?
Who asks this: An acquaintance who wants to know if they can get away with telling racist jokes in front of you, and also can’t take a hint.
How to respond: Point to the nearest building and say “over there”.
3. What’s your background?
Who asks this: Your coworker, the first time you go out for drinks.
How to respond: With your entire work history in excruciating detail, starting from junior kindergarten.
4. Is that a traditional outfit from your culture?
Who asks this: A friend of a friend who’s really into kombucha and thinks they can rap.
How to respond: Yeah, we wear these to human sacrifices.
5. So are you a half-breed?
Who asks this: Someone you encountered briefly on the subway platform.
How to respond: Say: “I’m the Half-Blood Prince, you muggle!”, and turn them into a ferret. Unless you’re not a wizard — then just walk away.
