What "race" should I identify as? How do you write your "race" on forms?

Generally, I write go fuck yourself. I dislike forms that ask for it, it seems like a recipe for discrimination.

 

I usually tick afro-chinese, 'cause you know, I'm about as pale white as you can get.

I say usually, because I've never really filled in a form that asked me that, since they are optional!

 

I go with Caucasian usually, or prefer not to answer. I'm a blend of Caucasian, Native American and African American so Putting that is a bit I don't know odd.

Only ever seen that on school forms for like Meap Tests and such. So it has been many a year since I've filled out such a form.

 

Caucasion/white

 

I'd say you should go with white since that's what's been used in your family's history. Just so that people don't go, "Ok so, white, white, white, white, white... hold on, did they steal a kid there??!" when looking at your family history (I don't know who looks at that kind of thing, mind you...). Jkjk, but you get what I mean. Or if you like, bi-racial when that is an option, since you seem to be a mix of white and hispanic.

Me, I'm white, there's really no ambiguity about it lol so that's what I write. Yeah technically, I probably have a few drops of Native American blood, but I wouldn't even know where it's from, and I most definitely do not look like I do haha.

 

Fully agree!! In the country I live it's even not allowed to ask for someone's race. But then again, in Europe we have historically bad experiences with central databases containing race/religion information of normal citizens. It made it much easier for the Nazis to round up the Jews during WW2.

Maybe, this explains also that we are not so fond of the NSA currently.:icon_wink

Moreover, why do they want to know? What difference does it make whether you're black, white, yellow, pink or purple? You're American right? That should be sufficient.

 

I prefer to put decline to state when I have to answer. For forms that disallow that, I put white or Caucasian. I consider the UK and Ireland the mother countries, Germany the ornery grandpa, and Canada the little sister who gets all the attention and cool stuff, so I'm pretty white.

 

Me? Nah.

 

I like this answer.

AC, it depends. And, at the same time, there are no rules. What constitutes white or caucasian is broader than what most people think. It includes those from Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. While North African is one from any of the countries located above sub-Saharan Africa, where the Middle East ends is unclear, at least to me.

Getting back to Hispanic, a Spaniard from Spain should be checking the box that says white. Though, because of a surname, they may choose not to. An Argentine with grandparents, 2 generations up, who came from Spain and Italy should also be checking white but, again, may choose not to and check Hispanic. I really think that the designation was meant to include, and protect, those who have a Mestizo, or part indigenous, ancestral line. At what point does it become irrelevant: at 1/8 or at 1/16? I don't know. All I know, or think, is that most people with ancestry in Central and South America, outside of Brazil, probably check the Hispanic box. I'm sure there are some who adamantly will not do so. A friend of mine used to do mortgages and it had that question on a form. A lady from a South American country did not like this question because she was ancestrally white, and when the Hispanic portion of the form offered sub-boxes for Mexican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban, she was so put off by it and went to an altogether different part of the form, titled Other, and wrote in the name of her country on the fill-in line. That was funny.

 

Yeah. Moreover, why does it matter. And why do they care? I understand the importance of racial heritage to some, but I don't see how that has a place on official forms. By encouraging us to separate ourselves from each other, it only encourages further fragmentation in society, and fuck knows we have too much of that.

 

If it's for colleges and universities, putting down what ethnic group you are is important in getting scholarships since there are a metric fuck ton of them geared towards minority groups.

At least in the United States.

 

Depends on where you're at. I've been to two community college that served different areas and the groups represented there was vastly different. Honestly? I might have met one and I'm hesitant to say that since I'm not sure if she actually was.

 

I always wanted to be an half-elf

 

I'm as white as you can get, but I usually leave that question blank, or if there is an option for "other," I check that box and write "human." There's no reason anyone needs to know my race unless they're my doctor.

 

Well, I'm Hispanic, Latino, etc, but would never fill out "White" or "Caucasian" on a form, because I'm not. If we're speaking culturally, I probably have more in common with other Westerners, but racially, I've more indigenous makeup than your average American (even those who claim tribal ancestry), and can easily pass for a Hapa.

As for my own answers, it varies.

 

Sorry for my ignorance. But than again, I live in a "semi communist" country were you don't need a scholarship for a decent education. Downside is, to pay for that and many other things, we have to pay up to 52% tax on your income. It's what you prefer. Personally, I prefer our system.

 

Lol, I actually admire the netherlands, sweden, and countries like that due to their pretty decent system for everything. I have a friend from sweden and I was pretty surprised when he told me that he was paid to go to school, though, I believe it was the general education and not university.

But, yes, scholarships are about the only way most people can get higher education here, even then they have to take out loans. The only people that don't have to worry about scholarships/loans are quite wealthy.

 

If the option is "Caucasian" I do not select it because technically that means your ancestors are from the Caucasus Mountain area and my ancestors are not from that area. I will only select the option that says "white". If there is no option that says "white" then I will say "other" or refuse to give an answer because it would be providing false information.



If they want to fit me into a box then I am going to make very sure that I am put into the most accurate one.