I look like your average african american right? - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

Mind Freak · 27th Jan 2010, 06:29 PM

I think I look like an average black guy. But apparently people seem to think that I'm mixed with some other race for some reason. Lol.

Today some guy my group of friends were talking with asked me where I was from, where my parents were from, and then if I was regular black. Or something like that. And I was like "What?" confused. And he goes. "What are your parents." and I'm like they're black. And he asks me if they mixed with anything. Lol. They're not btw. Well my dad says we're part creole but that's barely worth mentioning because it's like eons down the line. Lol.

Maybe he was just trying to make small talk but that's happened to me a few times and it never ceases to amaze me. Do I look like something else to you or are these people just confused?

Hoppip · 27th Jan 2010, 07:56 PM

I'd seize the opportunity to fabricate outrageous lies about my lineage.

"I'm only black on my great grandpa's side. The rest of my family is from Slovenia."

Ander Blue · 27th Jan 2010, 08:50 PM

hmm, I've been mistaken for being Asian several times before (I have no idea where they get the idea from either!). So I sympathize with you. Have you ever asked them why they think you're mixed with some other race? As to your question though, I have really no idea at all, sorry.

**Lexington** · 27th Jan 2010, 08:52 PM

People see what they want to see, I guess. I was pulled over for being too young to drive once...in my twenties. But when I had my fortieth birthday a few weeks ago, more than one person said, "I thought you turned forty years ago." Apparently, sometime between 25 and 40, I aged at least thirty years...

Lex

Markio · 28th Jan 2010, 12:30 AM

I had a friend who was Phillipino, but people thought she was Latina or Black.

I think it's normal for people to be curious about other people's cultural identity or racial background, but it's weird when people get really invested in guessing right. It's like, just ask!

ok455 · 28th Jan 2010, 03:33 AM

I Work with this Italian guy and he can pass for Hispanic Or Arab

And i also with with this girl whos half Puerto Rican and Italian and I thought she was Indian when i first met her

MusicIsLife · 28th Jan 2010, 06:56 AM

I used to be asked if I was Japanese, which makes NO sense at all, because I'm english and irish :S

Swamp56 · 28th Jan 2010, 10:13 AM

I have the opposite problem; people know exactly where I'm from just by looking at my name and face. I have possibly one of the most Irish possible names.

Taurusguy92 · 28th Jan 2010, 10:24 AM

At least you guys mostly know what you are... I'm a mix of so many things it's hard to even keep track of them.

BrownBoi89 · 28th Jan 2010, 02:33 PM

Well if you're really fair skinned that may be why people think you're mixed, because I think some people assume African-Americans with fairer skin are more likely to be mixed with European ancestry.

Most people can guess that I'm at least South Asian, which is good enough for me. But what annoys me is that when I tell other South Asian people that I'm Punjabi they're always so surprised, because I think since my skin is darker than most Punjabis, it's hard for them to believe that such a relatively dark skinned Indian is Punjabi. Oh wells.

malachite · 29th Jan 2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexington

People see what they want to see, I guess. I was pulled over for being too young to drive once...in my twenties. But when I had my fortieth birthday a few weeks ago, more than one person said, "I thought you turned forty years ago." Apparently, sometime between 25 and 40, I aged at least thirty years...

Lex

I still get carded for R rated movies. I so look at least 17!

----------

everything looks normal from my end, excpet for one thing. You look a little more hansome then I think you realize.

Alex19 · 29th Jan 2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ok455

I Work with this Italian guy and he can pass for Hispanic Or Arab

And i also with with this girl whos half Puerto Rican and Italian and I thought she was Indian when i first met her

us italians do get mistaken for these sometimes lol my one friend looks hispanic but is 100% italian. i, have been asked if i was asian before but was like,nope... all italian

Mind Freak · 30th Jan 2010, 04:33 PM

Nohtaneas, fabricating lies about lineage huh? Sounds interesting. I should try it. Lol.

Malachite, I think that was a stealthy compliment so thanks! : ) You're probably right.

Markio, I completely agree with you! It would have been much easier for him to just ask, but then I wouldn't have that priceless story. x D

Ander Blue, I should definitely start asking! I'll let you guys know the answers I get. : )

I also told a few good friends the story and so far the vote has been unamimous that I look like a "regular" black guy. Haha. So yeah! Hopefully that kid was just trying to make small talk and couldn't come up with anything better. : )

Sicsemper79 · 31st Jan 2010, 06:52 AM

Tell them you're Irish.

You look fine to me btw... If asked, I would say you looks like a black dude. Good looking guy though

Mind Freak · 31st Jan 2010, 05:28 PM

Thanks!

27th Jan 2010, 06:29 PM	#1
Mind Freak Hey y'all (It's a southern thang);D Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Uh? Bi! Out Status: HOLY COW [at least 10] WHOLE PEOPLE! ;) Age: 19 Posts: 755 Join Date: Jul 2008	I look like your average african american right? I think I look like an average black guy. But apparently people seem to think that I'm mixed with some other race for some reason. Lol. Today some guy my group of friends were talking with asked me where I was from, where my parents were from, and then if I was regular black. Or something like that. And I was like "What?" confused. And he goes. "What are your parents." and I'm like they're black. And he asks me if they mixed with anything. Lol. They're not btw. Well my dad says we're part creole but that's barely worth mentioning because it's like eons down the line. Lol. Maybe he was just trying to make small talk but that's happened to me a few times and it never ceases to amaze me. Do I look like something else to you or are these people just confused? __________________

27th Jan 2010, 07:56 PM	#2
Hoppip look at the good i do Full Member Gender: Lv. 18 ♂ Orientation: Water / Dragon Out Status: Uncommon Location: Johto Posts: 1,562 Join Date: May 2008	Re: I look like your average african american right? I'd seize the opportunity to fabricate outrageous lies about my lineage. "I'm only black on my great grandpa's side. The rest of my family is from Slovenia." __________________ KUDOS ME. I made myshelf pregnant.

27th Jan 2010, 08:50 PM	#3
Ander Blue feeling comfy Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Copenhagen, Denmark (normally Troy, New York) Age: 22 Posts: 428 Join Date: Nov 2009	Re: I look like your average african american right? hmm, I've been mistaken for being Asian several times before (I have no idea where they get the idea from either!). So I sympathize with you. Have you ever asked them why they think you're mixed with some other race? As to your question though, I have really no idea at all, sorry. __________________ Re-examine all you have been told.... Dismiss what insults your soul. ~ Walt Whitman

27th Jan 2010, 08:52 PM	#4
Lexington The gay gargoyle EC Advisor Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Colorado Age: 42 Posts: 12,371 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: I look like your average african american right? People see what they want to see, I guess. I was pulled over for being too young to drive once...in my twenties. But when I had my fortieth birthday a few weeks ago, more than one person said, "I thought you turned forty years ago." Apparently, sometime between 25 and 40, I aged at least thirty years... Lex

28th Jan 2010, 12:30 AM	#5
Markio EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Family, friends, and staff! Location: California Age: 21 Posts: 1,139 Join Date: Oct 2008	Re: I look like your average african american right? I had a friend who was Phillipino, but people thought she was Latina or Black. I think it's normal for people to be curious about other people's cultural identity or racial background, but it's weird when people get really invested in guessing right. It's like, just ask! __________________ Celebrate diversity!

28th Jan 2010, 03:33 AM	#6
ok455 EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Some people Location: Can't tell L!O!L Age: 24 Posts: 437 Join Date: May 2005	Re: I look like your average african american right? I Work with this Italian guy and he can pass for Hispanic Or Arab And i also with with this girl whos half Puerto Rican and Italian and I thought she was Indian when i first met her __________________ http://209.50.252.116/smile.gif

28th Jan 2010, 06:56 AM	#7
MusicIsLife EC Addict Full Member Gender: Not even sure anymore. Something in between. Orientation: I like girls :) Out Status: Everyone on orientation 7 people on trans issue. Location: Montréal, QC Age: 23 Posts: 1,595 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: I look like your average african american right? I used to be asked if I was Japanese, which makes NO sense at all, because I'm english and irish :S

28th Jan 2010, 10:13 AM	#8
Swamp56 EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Out to everyone Location: Boston, MA Age: 21 Posts: 2,166 Join Date: Aug 2008	Re: I look like your average african american right? I have the opposite problem; people know exactly where I'm from just by looking at my name and face. I have possibly one of the most Irish possible names. __________________

28th Jan 2010, 10:24 AM	#9
Taurusguy92 EC's Cascada Fanboy Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: I'm tired of trying to label myself Out Status: Some people Age: 20 Posts: 783 Join Date: Jan 2010	Re: I look like your average african american right? At least you guys mostly know what you are... I'm a mix of so many things it's hard to even keep track of them.

28th Jan 2010, 02:33 PM	#10
BrownBoi89 Well Known Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: Everyone knows except my extended family Location: Vancouver Age: 22 Posts: 101 Join Date: Oct 2009	Re: I look like your average african american right? Well if you're really fair skinned that may be why people think you're mixed, because I think some people assume African-Americans with fairer skin are more likely to be mixed with European ancestry. Most people can guess that I'm at least South Asian, which is good enough for me. But what annoys me is that when I tell other South Asian people that I'm Punjabi they're always so surprised, because I think since my skin is darker than most Punjabis, it's hard for them to believe that such a relatively dark skinned Indian is Punjabi. Oh wells.

30th Jan 2010, 04:33 PM	#13
Mind Freak Hey y'all (It's a southern thang);D Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Uh? Bi! Out Status: HOLY COW [at least 10] WHOLE PEOPLE! ;) Age: 19 Posts: 755 Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: I look like your average african american right? Nohtaneas, fabricating lies about lineage huh? Sounds interesting. I should try it. Lol. Malachite, I think that was a stealthy compliment so thanks! : ) You're probably right. Markio, I completely agree with you! It would have been much easier for him to just ask, but then I wouldn't have that priceless story. x D Ander Blue, I should definitely start asking! I'll let you guys know the answers I get. : ) I also told a few good friends the story and so far the vote has been unamimous that I look like a "regular" black guy. Haha. So yeah! Hopefully that kid was just trying to make small talk and couldn't come up with anything better. : ) __________________

31st Jan 2010, 06:52 AM	#14
Sicsemper79 I got soul but I'm not a soldier Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: a lot of people now! Location: Roanoke VA Posts: 222 Join Date: Dec 2009	Re: I look like your average african american right? Tell them you're Irish. You look fine to me btw... If asked, I would say you looks like a black dude. Good looking guy though __________________ JC “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” --William Shakespeare

31st Jan 2010, 05:28 PM	#15
Mind Freak Hey y'all (It's a southern thang);D Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Uh? Bi! Out Status: HOLY COW [at least 10] WHOLE PEOPLE! ;) Age: 19 Posts: 755 Join Date: Jul 2008	Re: I look like your average african american right? Thanks! __________________

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