"You look South African"

[MyInvisibleChyrsalis]

People only ask me where I'm from because of the way I speak I'm jelly.

 

[virtuenow]

People only ask me where I'm from because of the way I speak I'm jelly.

Msmchy How do you speak?

 

[locabouthair]

People ask me where I'm from all the time. No one believes I'm American and I don't have an accent. I met a few members from this site and they were asking me where I was from too.

 

[MaraWithLove]

Ah the "what's your race/what are you mixed with" card! I've encountered this many times as well! The most common one is Black and White. When I moved to GA, someone swore to me I was part European or either Hispanic haha-this coming from my Puerto-Rican friend Miguel. My old best friends who were from Sudan told me I looked Egyptian. Oh, once I was asked if I was West Indian as well. Oh and when my hair is straightened, I've just GOT to be part Asian. I always just shrug and say I look like me. XD I honestly think the people of the world are so diverse that it's easy to look at almost anyone and think they belong to certain ethnicities or nationalities; but that same fact can also make it hard to know someone's background. I love how you can look at a random person and find them so exotic looking. Ok, so I people watch sometimes!

 

[SophieDulce]

MissSenegal, LOL...South Africans have more booty than other Africans? Really?

Yes they do, native south african women do.. not referring to the mixes.. My step mother is and her whole family looks like they had but shots, lol.. Havent seen *** hip ratios like that in my life..

I am totally straight but was like DAMN when i went to SA , what the heyallll.lol

 

[Marino]

@PinkPeony I totally agree.



The word mulatto meant "mule's offspring" which labeled a child from a white and black parent as "not human" and/or "property."

In my island they are called "mulâtre", originaly, it was an offensive term, by then it was rather it becamed a compliment... Nowaday, people with a skin nearly white and black straight hair are called that way.
If a person half white - half black has a golden skin and hair, he is called another name : chabin. We have plenty of names for mixed people...
A hundred years ago, "mulâtres" where rather rich and respacted. In the time of slavery a mulâtre child was freed by his master...
This is my small particpation, in my bad english

 

[DaiseeDay]

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

To some people it's right there with "mutt".

 

[anon123]

I thought you are from Zimbabwe. Interesting.

That makes sense because of my username, which is Shona. But I'm not sure of the South African choice. I once had to try to get rid of a drunk Zulu guy while there who kept telling me (in Zulu) that I wasn't speaking in Zulu because I was trying to pretend I was foreign and act better than everybody.

 

[luckiestdestiny]

It could be a bunch of reasons: from...you look like someone they know of a certain culture, to they just have a stereotypes about what you are supposed to look like.

As for me and what I've been called:
I've had someone ask if I had Indian relatives (from India)...and I assume it's because of my almond shaped eyes. THe Indian men almost insist when I say no, like I must not know. Also occasionally an asian person asks if I have an asian parent but again I think it's the almond eyes. My hair was shorter then so I think it was related to features (I mention this because of the fact that you'll see on my Brazil mention below)

The weirdest experience was when a guy asked if I was from brazil. It wasn't weird that he asked but what he did. I was visiting california and there's a lady there that does a mean press. I just came from her house and stopped by a mall in glendale. My hair was I admit it, looking gorgeous: flowing, long, and shiny. Still that does not mean that a black woman, American can't have my hair because I exist darn it! Anyhoo I think this is the reason he was so adament.

Him: Whare are you from in Brazil?
Me: No
Him: Are you sure? Your parents?
Me: No. They're from here.
Him:Grand parents?
ME: No
Him: Maybe you just don't know.
ME: I'm black American
Him: Well you're a mixture so I'm sure of it. I can tell. YOu have hair just like the women there. Shiny, thick, long.

(This is where it got weird).

He proceeded before I could stop him to run his hands under my nape and slide his hands (kinda like when you see hair porn like when you lift hair up and slide your hands from nape to the ends like it was a blanket) all the way through it like he was spreading it out from root to tip.



Him:
Beeeeeeautiful (like he just had an orgasm or something). Like silk.

Me:
(blinking in shock. Feeling kinda icky like I was just molested or something. Starts to walk off).

Him:
Hey! Can I get your number! Hey! Wait!

(I kept walking). Normally I would've told him off but I just was so suprised and taken off guard that someone would invade my personal space in such a way. This wasn't just a weave check. It was like a sensual hand up my neck, nape and hair. And though it was in a quick motion, it was just not acceptable. People were stopping to see what was going on because it was just too much).

 

[nisemac]

MissAlinaRose they differentiate between 'regular' and other. erplexed at least that's how i'm seeing it.

in October, my BFF came to visit me. during a trip to the Great Wall, we ran into lots of other foreigners who approached us just because we were speaking english. one of them happened to be an elderly couple from New Zealand. as we're chatting, the husband proceeds to ask if we're indeed from the U.S. and the starts saying how U.S. 'coloreds' are really 'good'. that we're well educated, and sophisticated and well integrated in American society...unlike their 'coloreds' then, to add to his string of 'compliments' he starts with, "and you've got so many american coloreds that are at a nicer shade too."

and pops was totally sincere. as i'm just too cute to go to prison for pushing a dried kiwi off the Wall, i just left it at him being a product of his environment, and that generation is dying off anyway.

 

[Ogoma]

^^^^^^ That is so weird because I would never have considered either the Maori or the Aboriginals 'black' as it is usually defined. Thinking about the Maori skin tones, it makes one wonder just what shade exactly he was talking about.

Weird conversation there. Good thing you didn't throw him off the wall .

 

[Nonie]

Yes they do, native south african women do.. not referring to the mixes.. My step mother is and her whole family looks like they had but shots, lol.. Havent seen *** hip ratios like that in my life..

I am totally straight but was like DAMN when i went to SA , what the heyallll.lol

SophieDulce, I guess I'm surprised by the statement that South Africans have bigger butts than other Africans when growing up in Kenya I saw booties that looked like you could balance a tray on them. My butt would not be referred to as small yet I remember being awestruck by some of the booties I saw growing up. We carry babies on our backs but there are women who didn't need a khanga (traditional cloth) to tie the baby onto the backs coz they had enough of a badonkadonk to support that baby.

So just like people are surprised that certain characteristics are associated with a particular group, I find the statement interesting coz even when I went to school in the UK, one of the first places I encountered people from many parts of Africa, I cannot recall South African rears standing out to me at all. I went to school with a Nigerian who had a body like Buffie the Body (all natural) and my fellow Kenyan from Obama's tribe was stacked like Serena. But you've all piqued my curiosity, so I'ma keep my eyes open. Nonie's launched "Operation Guess Which African Country that Big Butt is From". So if a chick in twists asks any of you where you're from, it'll be because you have a big butt and I want to know if it's from S.A.

 

[RedVelvet310]

I've gotten an array of assumptions:
Trinidadian
Cameroon (because I have high cheek bones)
Biracial (half black half white)
Brazilian

... come to think of it that's it ... I'm Jamaican which is a common guess amonst most people, Jamaicans come in so many different shades so thats the "go-to" nationality in Toronto (especially for black people)

 

[Shelew]

OP I think I agree with your boyfriend, that guy was trying to Mack and could not come up with anything else to say. He was in awe of your hair!!! Lol

 

[BrookeLynn]

Everyone thinks I'm West Indian. EVERYONE. My husband is Jamaican. He even thought I was Jamaican when I met him.

I've even had people argue me down that I'm Jamaican, Guyanese, Trinidadian, Bahamian and every other country under the sun. Everything but what I am, African American and proud.

 

[Beautytalk69]

I don't ever get any type of African...people ask me if I am Latina, which is true, I do have Puerto Rican in my ancestry (My grandpa is Puerto Rican) But if they had to guess, they usually ask if I am either Columbian or Dominican. I don't get offended though, I think its silly to be offended by such a innocent inquiry. With so much diversity in the world, people are curious and they shouldn't feel like they are offending someone by asking...and people wonder where the stereotype that all black women have a chip on their shoulder comes from...

Personally, I find it annoying/rude as hell. Especially when you are minding your own business. Strangers don't need to know where I'm from. I've known ppl for over five years and they had no clue where my family is from..bc its none of there business.lol

Some of these responses are crazy. Idk what the hell these ppl were thinking when they asked yall these off the wall questions.

 

[Bnster]

It is said that all people come from Africa, so hence we can be associated with a tribe by our features. So something in your feature has piped the person to ask that question on today's race classification and grouping can you possibly be. I would be interested to look into it especially now that I am researching my ancestral line.

Now if they are out to lunch making a wild guesses or something, that have no relevance, leave them to their imagination.

 

[dreamgurl82]

OP I am from southern Africa and from your photo I would have thought you were from South Africa too!! Pretty girl.

 

[WhippedButterCreme]

Everyone thinks I'm West Indian. EVERYONE. My husband is Jamaican. He even thought I was Jamaican when I met him.

I've even had people argue me down that I'm Jamaican, Guyanese, Trinidadian, Bahamian and every other country under the sun. Everything but what I am, African American and proud.

OORAH baby! For being proud (hi-fives) Been there myself with the 'agrue me down' thing. In most of these battles, I had to go back in my ancestry and until I said/admitted? 'My great grandmother was Native American' then that was some kind of solace/victory for the person as they got to say 'ohhh well THATS where you get your look from'

Lol I call bs on every account there

I have the belief that if you're fly in some aspect: hair/brains/beauty/atheletics will love to try to claim

 

[BostonMaria]

OP the woman in the picture has such beautiful skin.

I usually get Dominican (which I am), Cape Verdean, or Puerto Rican.

 

[Lucille]

OP, you really do look South African! I would've guessed the same.

I'm quite easy to guess except when my hair is straight. Then I get injun which annoys the hell outta me.

 

[LaidBak]

For years I would get asked if I was from Jamaica or "the islands". I always said no. It wasn't until I was in my mid-30s and took a DNA test that I found out that I indeed was Bahamian in origin.

 

[BklynHeart]

For years I would get asked if I was from Jamaica or "the islands". I always said no. It wasn't until I was in my mid-30s and took a DNA test that I found out that I indeed was Bahamian in origin.

Interesting!!

 

[MissAlinaRose]

Yes they do, native south african women do.. not referring to the mixes.. My step mother is and her whole family looks like they had but shots, lol.. Havent seen *** hip ratios like that in my life..

I am totally straight but was like DAMN when i went to SA , what the heyallll.lol

@SophieDulce @Nonie

Oh my, I just had an aha! moment. Remember the story of Sarah "Saartjie"Baartman? She was a Khoisan woman from the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

From the southafrica.info website:

"Baartman had unusually large buttocks and genitals, and in the early 1800s Europeans were arrogantly obsessed with their own superiority, and with proving that others, particularly blacks, were inferior and oversexed.
Baartman’s physical characteristics, not unusual for Khoisan women, although her features were larger than normal, were “evidence” of this prejudice, and she was treated like a freak exhibit in London."



Hmmm...I didn't immediately see that connection at first.

​

 

[MissAlinaRose]

This is my small particpation, in my bad english

Marino I totally understood, and it is so interesting to learn history cross-culturally! Thank you.

(I kept walking). Normally I would've told him off but I just was so suprised and taken off guard that someone would invade my personal space in such a way. This wasn't just a weave check. It was like a sensual hand up my neck, nape and hair. And though it was in a quick motion, it was just not acceptable. People were stopping to see what was going on because it was just too much).

luckiestdestiny Wow I'm speechless! That is so creepy.

@MissAlinaRose they differentiate between 'regular' and other. erplexed at least that's how i'm seeing it.

nisemac U.S. 'coloreds' are really 'good'. that we're well educated, and sophisticated and well integrated in American society...unlike their 'coloreds'.

 

[virtuenow]

Its official, you look South African!

 

[MissAlinaRose]

Its official, you look South African!

virtuenow

Why? How? What happened?

(lol)

 

[virtuenow]

MissAlinaRose I'm sorry, it looks like you got enough votes for South Africaan! I'm still not satisfied w/what the South African look is. I know there have got to be women from there on this board! Do you have a picture of Sarah Baartman?

 

[MissAlinaRose]

@MissAlinaRose I'm sorry, it looks like you got enough votes for South Africaan! I'm still not satisfied w/what the South African look is. I know there have got to be women from there on this board! Do you have a picture of Sarah Baartman?

virtuenow Oh ok yeah! I understand now. (I thought you had looked at some google pics or something and found a link )

For a person who doesn't know where their original ties are from (geographically speaking), it makes me happy to find a connection even if it is a guess. I am content to be associated with any of the beautiful countries that make up the great continent of Africa!

As far as Sarah, there are only drawings of her since her short presence on Earth was in the late 18th/early 19th century. But I'll pm you. The only drawings of her are kind of sexually revealing and I don't want to violate rules in any way.

 

[Phaer]

I am Caribbean and get asked if I am African a lot. In fact I had a friend in college who was from Kenya, and people would ask us if we were twins, we would go out and play tricks on people. I didn't really think we looked that much alike.

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