"You look South African"

[MissAlinaRose]

@MissAlinaRose Your hair looks amazing! I love it, you have the perfect thickness and length to pull it off. I hope my hair does that style justice when I try it again.

How long did you keep em in? I only lasted like a month back when I did them but I think I wanna do better next time. I absolutely love having mini braids in, just wash condition and go, so liberating.

BlackMasterPiece Thank you, you're such a sweetie pie!

I kept them in for 5 weeks. They are my summer go-to style because it gets exceptionally hot and humid around these parts. But, I love love LOVE mini braids. The take in/take out process doesn't discourage me either. I think it is totally worth having wash and go hair for an entire summer. Let me know when you do yours!

Btw, the woman in that picture is so pretty! I'd take that as a major compliment!

WhippedButterCreme I agree she's a doll!

 

[MissAlinaRose]

While reading comments in this thread I thought about my little granny who gets mistaken for Asian all the time. She has very pale skin with jet black hair that goes to her behind (and yes, it's all hers and no she's never had a relaxer).

 

[Nonie]

^^@MissAlinaRose, she really does look Asian. The only reason I am able to say she looks Asian, not she is Asian is because you said she was your granny. If I happened to see her standing among Asians out in the street, I'd think she was one of them.

She's so sweet-looking, BTW. She looks like she's such a kind and loving soul!

 

[aquajoyice]

I attract Ethiopian men when I wear my hair in wash n' go styles. I've had this happen multiple time and they say I remind them of home. I don't understand why.

 

[MissAlinaRose]

^^@MissAlinaRose, she really does look Asian. The only reason I am able to say she looks Asian, not she is Asian is because you said she was your granny. If I happened to see her standing among Asians out in the street, I'd think she was one of them.

She's so sweet-looking, BTW. She looks like she's such a kind and loving soul!

Nonie Yep that's my dad's mom. (what a mama's boy ) She's like 4ft 10" tall so that makes the Asian label even more frequent from people.


BTW: She's the sweetest, youngest looking old granny I know!! (don't tell her I called her old though )

 

[GaiasDaughter24]

@prettypithy I despise statements like "regular black" or "typical black." Like for real ya'll what is a "regular black person"?

MULATTO??? Did someone really just call you a mule's offspring? *Where's the lawd gif when you need one* That's not cool.

Here in MN mulatto is a typical term. If you ask a biracial person what they are they'll answer with mulatto. It's not taboo here. Ask my SIL and that's what she'll tell you. But from the people I've met, they don't know what it means

 

[Nelli04]

I've gotten ethopian or some sort of east african quite a bit...
Some east african men randomly told me I looked like I was from the carribean, possibly jamaica while I was riding the train.

And the oddest one I got was a cab driver (who happened to be middle eastern) asked me where I was from, he said my skin tone was similar to people in Hawaii

i honestly don't see what they see.

 

[nisemac]

i've been mistaken for:

biracial (any combination of half black/half white, half black/asian, half black/latino)
puerto rican
dominican
cuban
brazilian
any other afro latino mix
morrocan
libyan
south african
maori
jamaica/trinidad/barbados caribbean hybrid
most polynesian groups
'colored' (does that even count???? by New Zealanders, and West Africans who add South African to it)

since being in china, its expanded quite a bit, and it comes more from other foreigners than locals. my mom's jamaican, my dad is american (AA from Georgia).

 

[MissAlinaRose]

Here in MN mulatto is a typical term. If you ask a biracial person what they are they'll answer with mulatto. It's not taboo here. Ask my SIL and that's what she'll tell you. But from the people I've met, they don't know what it means

Omgosh! I had no idea people still use the term all willy nilly. There are plenty people where I'm from that consider the word offensive because of what it means. But I guess some people think it just means "mixed." ahh well. Tomato tomatta

 

[anon123]

I have heard that exact thing so many times! That is, South African specifically. Especially when I was in southern Africa (SA and Zim), and moreso than other AAs I was with or ran into. I'm not sure what the look is, though.

 

[virtuenow]

Yep totally,
I've been 'mixed' with everything. Cambodian, Asian, White, Indian, My roomate's boyfriend asked if I was Dominican.

Then last week at work, a black guy and a white girl both asked if I was mixed. Interesting, in highschool no one questioned if I was black.

But now everyone's got some blood they want to add into my lineage. I thought wearing braid extensions would make me seem more AA positive.

My sister/mom swear up and down it's because of how I do my eye make up but eh. I think color and other factors have to do with it. (shrugs)

Btw, the woman in that picture is so pretty! I'd take that as a major compliment!

Exactly! In high school no one questioned my ethnicity or nationality. I was straight-black American. Then as soon as I entered college, people always ask what country I'm from, what part c+of Africa, and specifically if I'm Ethiopian. I thought it was so strange-- and I was quite offended (I hate to admit). Why don't I look American? The only thing I knew about Ethiopians lookwise was that people always joked about how anorexic they looked-- so I thought it was an insult. I finally started asking people why they think I'm Ethiopian-- and they said it was a compliment b/c they are beautiful people. I am alot more mature now and can appreciate that black people have such a diverse look. Furthermore, that it could be our ancestry showing up and standing out to people. I have no idea where the blacks in our family came from -- what part of Africa.

 

[cheryl26]

I don't think my hair correlates to why I'm asked sometimes b/c the top ethnic group/race? I am questioned about is Native American. I think it's moreso the eyes and skin color b/c I get, "are you Spanish" a lot, which I am half Latina lol.

 

[NYDee]

I thought you are from Zimbabwe. Interesting.

I have heard that exact thing so many times! That is, South African specifically. Especially when I was in southern Africa (SA and Zim), and moreso than other AAs I was with or ran into. I'm not sure what the look is, though.

 

[NYDee]

When I wear a wig, people think I'm from PR or part Indian. Africans usually guess I'm African but can't place me in a country.

 

[temfash]

People that don't know me have never been able to guess where I'm from originally. My daughter says I look West Indian / Jamaican to be exact. I'm a full blooded Nigerian

 

[sillygirl82]

In the past few months, I was asked if I was Eritrean and Egyptian. I'm just a regular negro.

 

[GIJane]

I have people ask me where I'm from and when I respond DC they rebutt with no what nationality are you. So I say American (black). But people believe that I am from the Islands. Whatever. I just say born and raised in DC. Lived in Europe for a number of years. My father is Dominican but I was raised by my mother's side. When I finally went to visit Dominican republic one of my friends who did not know my background said I look like I am Dominican. I have went to get my hair done by the Dominicans' and they assumed I was Dominican as well. So maybe there are certain features that certain nationlities do have.

 

[Guitarhero]

In the past few months, I was asked if I was Eritrean and Egyptian. I'm just a regular negro.

There is no such thing as all people are ethnic, not generic. People all over the world get mistaken for others all the time. It's not really that big of a deal. A lot of these answers are quite interesting, though.

 

[lilyofthenile]

I've had Somali so many times... and Kenyan. One time I got 'you don't look African' not sure what was meant with that... erplexed

I'm from South Sudan though.

 

[Kinkyhairlady]

I get asked all the time if I'm from Ghana or Nigeria like to the point where I'm like yeah and keep it moving. lol

The funny thing is that Nigerians ask me if I am from there and folks from Ghana ask me if I'm from their country. I always look like a sister, cousin or wife. When i used to rock my curly weave back in college I was asked if I was ethiopian a couples times as well. Oh well we all African at the end of the day!

 

[sillygirl82]

There is no such thing as all people are ethnic, not generic. People all over the world get mistaken for others all the time. It's not really that big of a deal. A lot of these answers are quite interesting, though.

I know that. But I answer in that regard when I can tell people are only asking the question about my background because I have somehow threatened their view of what a black American should be.

I can tell the difference to someone being generally inquisitive or flirty versus "that's not how I expect a black American to look, act, etc."

 

[PinkPeony]

Not to generalize but Africans from specific regions DO tend to have a specific look. Its had to explain but I can usually guesstimate which region an African is from. For example I have a friend from a specific southern african country and I noticed that they tend to have lighter skin with doe eyes same with west africans who tend to have high cheekbones or with sudanese and their very dark and rich skintone. Again I can't really explain it well, I just recognize it.

belletropjolie which country?

Back in Germany my fellow Africans usually guessed me to be either fully or mixed from Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
Which was pretty good considering my father is from Mozambique which borders on all these, wrong country right region.
Besides that depending on how I wear my hair pretty much all brown ppl off the world try to claim me as theirs.
Vietnamese, Brazilian,Paki,Mexican or random spanish speaking countries, Philippines or half asian.

I believe all races overlap somewhere to the point that the darkest of one group can easily fit in with the lightest of another. How easily we can be mistaken for another completely different race just shows that the current race model is deeply flawed

 

[PinkPeony]

Omgosh! I had no idea people still use the term all willy nilly. There are plenty people where I'm from that consider the word offensive because of what it means. But I guess some people think it just means "mixed." ahh well. Tomato tomatta

The word is offensive?
Please explain ,it's commonly used in Mozambique and other nationalities.
I never felt that it was offensive but I'm interested to learn more.

 

[yaya24]

I get asked if I am Caribbean (more times than I can count).. but I am Nigerian

 

[beana]

People ask if I'm Nigerian or Fula (tribe) all the time.

 

[MissAlinaRose]

I have heard that exact thing so many times! That is, South African specifically. Especially when I was in southern Africa (SA and Zim), and moreso than other AAs I was with or ran into. I'm not sure what the look is, though.

Well heyy there my South African sister!

I want to know what this "look" is too. I think it's very interesting.

 

[MissAlinaRose]

Exactly! In high school no one questioned my ethnicity or nationality. I was straight-black American. Then as soon as I entered college, people always ask what country I'm from, what part c+of Africa, and specifically if I'm Ethiopian. I thought it was so strange-- and I was quite offended (I hate to admit). Why don't I look American? The only thing I knew about Ethiopians lookwise was that people always joked about how anorexic they looked-- so I thought it was an insult. I finally started asking people why they think I'm Ethiopian-- and they said it was a compliment b/c they are beautiful people. I am alot more mature now and can appreciate that black people have such a diverse look. Furthermore, that it could be our ancestry showing up and standing out to people. I have no idea where the blacks in our family came from -- what part of Africa.

virtuenow You are so right about this and that is what I find so striking. I think to myself all the time that my ancestry is being expressed phenotypically. Despite the fact that I realize people all over can have various features, sometimes I see certain types of people here in the states with distinct features from various regions overseas.

Whenever I go to this Nigerian beauty supply store in Houston, I swear they could be my family. It's crazy.

 

[MissAlinaRose]

I don't think my hair correlates to why I'm asked sometimes b/c the top ethnic group/race? I am questioned about is Native American. I think it's moreso the eyes and skin color b/c I get, "are you Spanish" a lot, which I am half Latina lol.

cheryl26 I think your hair could be correlated. Just by glancing at your avatar+siggy I would have guessed Latina. Maybe it's because I'm from Texas and the fact that many of the women (even the half Latinas) have those same features (eyes, skin, hair texture). I realize that those features could be categorized for anyone, but I would have guessed Latina.

 

[ChristmasCarol]

People ask me if I'm from the other side of town - does that count?

The Somali men that I see in the city have a very distinct look. I would never mistake them for AA, even if they aren't talking and I cannot hear their accent. I've never seen an AA man with the same combination of features.

 

[MissAlinaRose]

How easily we can be mistaken for another completely different race just shows that the current race model is deeply flawed

PinkPeony I totally agree.

The word is offensive?
Please explain

I can only speak for what I was taught as a young kiddo.

Because of the racially charged past of the US, certain areas (especially the south) have lingering distaste for certain words that hold derogatory meanings. The word mulatto meant "mule's offspring" which labeled a child from a white and black parent as "not human" and/or "property."

It also went in line with the 1-drop rule system of the US where if you had one drop of black blood, your identity was the green-light to be discriminated against in the worst ways. This is why some very light skin people who could "pass" for white did so they could blend in and enjoy all of the benefits that whites did...even if that meant they had to endure listening (or participating even) in the hatred against Blacks here. Very sad, shocking, and complex.

We have come a long way, but certain words bring out certain feelings. That's why I was shocked to know people still used the outdated term. Very interesting.

Great discussion ladies!